Sagamore Spirit Distillery
The Sagamore Spirit Distillery produces rye whiskeys in the old Maryland style. They are located a short distance from downtown Baltimore and some popular Baltimore attractions, such as Oriole Park at Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Baltimore Ravens) or the Baltimore Convention Center. It is a short ride via Lyft or Uber, but we chose to walk, as that gave us a better feel for the city. The walk was a little over 2 miles from our hotel near Camden Yards, and it took us past some interesting sections of Baltimore. We stopped for lunch at the SoBo Cafe, and really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and excellent food. (#4 on TripAdvisor when we were there, and well worth a visit, but alas, no bourbon, so local craft beer had to do...). Our walk then took us past the large production facility for the Baltimore Sun, just a short distance from the distillery, and also by the Under Armour campus. (who knew that they were based in Baltimore?) From Under Armour, it is just a "stone's through" to the distillery, which is attractive, yet functional, new construction, built for Sagamore Spirit Distillery.
Upon crossing the threshold of the main entrance to the distillery, we found ourselves in the gift shop / visitor center, where we were greeted by a friendly distillery employee, who would, coincidentally, soon become our tour guide. While we waited for our tour, we had the opportunity to peruse an exhibit which was a tribute to Baltimore distilling, comprised of a large map showing all of the Baltimore distilleries that existed prior to Prohibition. While waiting for our distillery tour, we also explored the gift shop, where one can purchase Sagamore Spirit Distillery paraphernalia, including many logo items manufactured by.... you guessed it... Under Armour.
Our tour took us throughout the campus, exploring all the production aspects of Sagamore Spirit ryes. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about Sagamore Spirit Distillery and its history. We learned that their ryes are a blend of two separate mash bills, although the exact ratios were not shared with us. The water used for producing the rye comes from a limestone aquifer on the Sagamore Farm (same owners, breeds and trains thoroughbred racehorses, about 26 miles from the distillery), and is trucked to the distillery as needed. We saw the fermenters, as well as the large column still used for the main production, and smaller pot still used for experimental batches, as well as the bottling line and barrel dumping areas. Our tour finished in one of the comfortable tasting rooms, where we had the opportunity to try some of their spirits. Our tasting consisted of the Signature Rye, the Cask Strength Rye, the Double Oak Rye and Port Finish Rye. Although they are all ryes, they are quite different. The Double Oak Rye, for example, is initially aged for 4 years in new charred oak barrles, and then placed in a second barrel from Kelvin Cooperage for additional aging.
After your tour, if you are hungry or thirsty, the Rye Street Tavern is immediately adjacent to the distillery. It is independently owned, so not related to Sagamore Spirit Distillery, except by proximity. We did not visit it, so we can't provide a recommendation, but we'd love to know what you think! As of October 2020, Sagamore Spirit has opened an on-site Rye Whiskey bar, Nineteen O'Nine, serving rye by the pour and cocktails, Thursday - Sunday.
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Please note that due to COVID Distillery Hours and Tour/Tasting Availability may vary. Please contact the distillery or check their web page or social media for details before you go.
| Days of operation | Sunday-Saturday |
| Paved Drive / Lot | Yes |
| Motorcycle Parking | No, but paved |
| Motorcycle unfriendly features | None |
| Number of tours per day | 10+ |
| Length of Tour(s) | 1h |
| Advanced topic tours? | No |
| Advanced topic tour names | N/A |
| Tours by owners /distillers available? | N/A |
| Number of different types of tours | 1 |
| On-Line Tour Reservations Available | Yes |
| Advanced Reservations Recommended/Required | Yes |
| Cost for tour(s) in $ | $15 (discounts available for military, underage) |
| Tasting Included? | Yes |
| Number of samples included in tasting | 4 |
| Tasting Only Option? | No |
| Tasting Only Option Cost | N/A |
| High-end tasting option? | No |
| High-end tasting option cost? | No |
| Designated Driver Option | No |
| Handicapped Accessible? | Yes |
| Gift shop | Yes |
| On-Site bottle sales? | Yes |
| On-site food: Restaurant/Cafe/Snacks | Yes (not owned by Sagamore). Restaurant w/ bar. |
| On-site Cocktail bar | Yes (Nineteen O'Nine) |
| On-site event space | Yes |
| Should I visit? (Yes, Perhaps, No) | Yes |
| Unique Features | All new construction. All rye distillery. Water trucked in from limestone aquifer on Sagamore Farm. |
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