Today I decided to step a bit out of my comfort zone, as I am not a rum guy; not even a little bit. Having enjoyed several of this distillery’s core products, I went out on a limb and tried one of their cask-finished bottles. From Sagamore Spirits, today’s review is of Sagamore Spirit Rum Cask Finish Rye.

From the Sagamore Spirits website: This second iteration of our Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey celebrates the innovation and creativity of our Sagamore Spirit Reserve Series. We aged our 5- and 6-year-old straight rye whiskies in hand-selected barrels from South America and Jamaica for an additional 10 months and then blended them back together. The Jamaican rum barrels contribute notes of ripe banana and bright pineapple, balanced by the rich vanilla and brûléed sugar character of the South American rum barrels-a unique combination enhancing the spice of our rye. Our Sagamore Spirit Reserve Series celebrates the legacy of Maryland distilling, with an unyielding focus on excellence from start to finish.

This bottle was a bit hard to find in NoCo, I am unsure why this was, but I did find one on a drive to North Denver. Overall, I am still not a rum guy, not even a bourbon finished in a rum cask. Still a good overall bottle of bourbon, I found a prominent note of nutmeg that stretched through the entire experience that was a bit too overpowering for my palate. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Nutmeg Galore! Additional, but Minimal, Notes of Pineapple, Vanilla, and Sweet Cane Sugar
• Palate: Pineapple, Banana, Vanilla, Rum, Butter, and Strong Spices (Nutmeg and Pepper)
• Finish: Medium with Finishing Notes of Nutmeg, Pepper, and Oak
• 2023 MSRP: $69
• 2023 National Average: $81
• Proof: 98
• My Rating: Mix It! (If you love rum and whiskey, this is for you!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman