-NewsDesk(cbedit@imaws.org)
Sagamore Spirit, known for its rye whiskey, ventures into new territory with the release of its inaugural liqueur, Sagamore Spirit Amaro. Crafted from the same 95% rye distillate as their Rye Whiskey, this herbal elixir aims to complement their core line of rye whiskies.
To perfect the recipe, Sagamore Spirit’s distillers conducted extensive experiments with premium botanicals that would harmonize with their rye distillate. The result is a balanced amalgamation of orange, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon notes, mirroring the baking spice flavors inherent to the brand’s signature Maryland rye whiskey. The outcome is an amaro characterized by a complex floral aroma and a mildly bitter finish, designed to appeal to both cocktail enthusiasts and whiskey connoisseurs.
Ryan Norwood, Chief Operating Officer at Sagamore Spirit, explained their motivation behind this endeavor, saying, “As distillers, we love experimenting, and developing Sagamore Spirit Amaro was a great opportunity to explore ingredients that would blend perfectly with our whiskey’s signature taste profile. Our standards are exacting, so getting it right took time. There wasn’t a playbook for a rye distillate-based amaro, and our goal was to create something that not only tasted great on its own, but was tailor-made for rye whiskey cocktails.”
With the introduction of Sagamore Spirit Amaro, the brand now offers all the components for crafting the perfect Black Manhattan cocktail. This cocktail, featuring Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, Sagamore Spirit Amaro, and the brand’s own whiskey cherries, will be available at select on-premise locations of US. Home mixologists can also create it themselves by purchasing all three ingredients from Sagamore Spirit’s Visitor’s Center.
Sagamore Spirit Amaro is now accessible for purchase at both on- and off-premise establishments in select markets, including California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington DC. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $29.99.
