Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye Whiskey

Sagamore Double Oak Rye brings caramel, toasted coconut, hazelnut and pecan into a rye whiskey profile, with vanilla adding another sweet accent. Those producer-described flavors make it an inviting direction for drinkers who enjoy nutty and toasted oak character. Its 96.6-proof bottling gives you a clear strength to compare with other finished ryes.

Try a small neat pour before adding water, then compare the toasted and nutty notes in a second glass over a cube. In a Manhattan, begin with less sweet vermouth if you want the whiskey to lead, and adjust to your taste. An Old Fashioned also provides a familiar setting for its caramel and vanilla character.

How it’s made: The rye first matures for four to five years in high-char new American oak, then spends another eighteen months in toasted wave-stave barrels. Sagamore proofs the finished whiskey with limestone-filtered spring water. The two-stage barrel process adds the toasted, sweet and nutty dimension.