Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish
A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies
50.6% ABV
$69
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We would like to thank Sagamore Spirit and 360PR.plus for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 25, 2020 – For those who crave a brown spirit that’s perfect before, during and after dinner, Sagamore Spirit today announced a new limited release rye whiskey that threads the needle: Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish. Straight rye whiskies consistent with Sagamore Spirit’s two distinct, signature mash bills are finished in Calvados barrels for over 11 months to imbue silky soft notes of baked apples, cinnamon and honey from the storied French apple brandy casks.
Calvados Finish follows on the heels of the distiller’s Double Gold win at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The finish ideally complements the approachability of Sagamore Spirit’s Maryland-style rye, creating a whiskey that’s undeniably smooth yet complex, at a substantial 101.2-proof. It joins the brand’s much-lauded core expressions, which have been bringing the Maryland-style rye revival to back bars and retail shelves across the country: Signature 83-proof, Double Oak at 98.6-proof and a bold Cask Strength.
“Calvados Finish is a prime example of our distilling team’s passion for experimentation and excellence,” said Brian Treacy, Sagamore Spirit’s president. “One of our distillers has a personal penchant for Calvados and wanted to see what it might bring out in our rye whiskey. That’s where it began, and from there, the team caught the fever and was all-in too. They gave it the time it needed in the barrel to create one of our most special releases so far.”
Sagamore Spirit rye whiskey spends at least 11 months finishing in Calvados barrels before being blended and aged for another 9 months in low-rye American oak barrels. The result is an incredible whiskey that marries the spice of rye with the sweetness of apples, nearly six years in the making.
Notes of baked apples, cinnamon, and honey from French apple brandy casks combine with our smooth rye profile to create a whiskey that is both luscious and daring. Enjoy lingering hints of cloves and walnuts as you sip, savour, and share.
A French-Maryland Connection
Just as local spring-fed water is essential in creating the balance that’s distinctive to Sagamore Spirit’s Maryland-style rye, Calvados shares a similar regionality that gives it a unique taste profile. Unlike other regions of France that are ideal for growing wine, Normandy, where Calvados is made, is cool and damp, making it better suited for rich brandies made from pears and apples.
To make Calvados, apples are fermented into a cider and distilled before aging in oak barrels for at least two years. The result is a liquid expression of the apples that is delightfully rustic compared to other French spirits and liqueurs.
Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish is the award-winning distillery’s first new expression of the year, following the successful releases of Port Finish and Cognac Finish in 2019. It will be available nationwide in March at a suggested retail price of $69 per bottle. To find a bottle near you visit sagamorespirit.com/find-rye.
Notes of baked apples, cinnamon
What Gary Says
Nose: Baked apple pie with cinnamon, dried mint, thyme, hint of clove with a wisp of lime zest.
Palate: Apple slices dripping with honey that sharpens with pepper spice, cloves, roasted nuts, citrus notes of tangerine.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with oak and applesauce.
Comments: I tried this side-by-side with Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye Whiskey, and I definitely preferred this. The Calvados finish is prominent, but not over-done – with notes of apple throughout. This has more edge than the Sagamore Spirit standard bearer, and I appreciate the higher ABV. A bit of water tamps the apple notes a bit and takes the edge off the pepper spice.