Sagamore Whiskey is taking its Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey national as of September 1, putting an eight-year, 100-proof, fully Maryland-made expression in front of premium spirits buyers across the country at a suggested retail price of $59.99.
The release represents a strategic inflection point for the Baltimore-based brand: for the first time, a Sagamore expression completes every step of production — distillation, maturation, and bottling — within Maryland state lines. The whiskey was distilled at Sagamore's Baltimore waterfront facility in spring 2018, making this an eight-year maturation, double the four-year minimum required under the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.
The Product Details
The expression blends two proprietary rye mash bills — one high-rye, one low-rye — a dual-bill approach that defines the brand's portfolio architecture. Bottled at the federally mandated 100 proof, the whiskey sits at the intersection of the brand's Maryland Style philosophy: rye spice tempered by a softer, fruit-forward character. The Bottled in Bond designation itself functions as a federal quality marker, requiring single-distillery, single-season production and a minimum four-year age statement — criteria that give on-premise buyers and retail spirits buyers a transparent provenance signal increasingly valued in the premium brown-spirits segment.
Why It Matters for the Trade
The $59.99 price point positions the expression squarely in the premium rye tier, where competition from established Kentucky producers and a growing cohort of craft and regional distillers has intensified. Maryland-style rye — historically characterized by its approachable profile relative to high-proof Pennsylvania counterparts — has attracted renewed trade interest as consumers and bartenders explore regional American whiskey subcategories beyond bourbon. Sagamore's portfolio has accumulated more than 200 international awards and the Baltimore distillery draws approximately 40,000 visitors annually, providing a direct-to-consumer sales and brand-building channel that supports broader on- and off-premise distribution.
"Seeing this whiskey go from the still to the bottle after eight years is incredibly rewarding," said Ryan Norwood, Master Distiller at Sagamore Whiskey. "Knowing that we distilled, aged and bottled this whiskey right here in Maryland makes this one especially meaningful for our team."
The national rollout targets select premium retailers alongside the brand's Baltimore distillery tasting room. For spirits buyers and foodservice operators building regional American whiskey programs, the expression adds a federally certified, age-stated Maryland rye at a price point that fits within established premium call and bottle-service tiers. Coverage of wider brown-spirits category trends appears in our beverages sector reporting, while analysis of premium spirits retail dynamics is covered in our retail and distribution section.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
