PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Sagamore Spirit Amaro is the Baltimore distillery’s first-ever liqueur, and it has an unusual starting point for an amaro: the same 95% rye distillate that goes into Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey. The brand calls it the “first rye-distillate-based Amaro product to enter the market.” Rather than starting from a neutral spirit or grape brandy, the team built the herbal liqueur to complement its rye from the ground up. Chief operating officer Ryan Norwood described the project: “As distillers, we love experimenting, and developing Sagamore Spirit Amaro was a great opportunity to explore ingredients that would blend perfectly with our whiskey’s signature taste profile.”
Its distillers tried a variety of premium botanicals before landing on a formula that pairs notes of orange, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon with the baking-spice character of Maryland rye. The brand’s tasting notes describe “a complex floral nose followed by flavors of orange, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon and ending with a mild bitter finish.” The palate is “citrus, dried berries, and an aromatic spice blend” that “end with a satisfying bitter finish, mellowed by a pleasant sweetness.”
Drinkhacker’s review found it “much heavier on spice than floral,” with “coriander, cardamom, and gentian root” on the nose and “cardamom (once again, quite pronounced), cinnamon bark, bitter orange, and coriander” on the palate, along with a noticeable sarsaparilla note. At 30% ABV (60 proof), it’s lighter than most whiskey and sits comfortably in the amaro range. It’s made for the Black Manhattan, the brand’s house cocktail of rye, amaro, bitters, and a whiskey cherry. The brand’s recipe uses two parts rye to one part amaro; Drinkhacker found the amaro’s bitterness slightly overpowered the rye at that ratio and suggested scaling it to ¾ ounce, which is a good tip for customers. It’s also pleasant neat or over ice as a digestif.
Sagamore Spirit Amaro Herbal Liqueur is produced by Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore, Maryland. It is made from the same 95% rye distillate used in Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, infused with a blend of premium botanicals including orange, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon. Bottled at 30% ABV / 60 proof (the ABV of a given bottle may vary slightly), 750ml.
No numerical critic scores are published for this product.
Drinkhacker:
“Nosed neat, the amaro starts off with heavy notes of coriander, cardamom, and gentian root; this is much heavier on spice than floral notes. Some more bitter botanical notes lie just beneath after significantly more time in the glass. In the mouth, early notes include cardamom (once again, quite pronounced), cinnamon bark, bitter orange, and coriander. The brand lists sarsaparilla on their tasting notes... I found that noticeable on the palate as well... In the cocktail, bitterness from the amaro slightly overpowers the rye; I’d recommend modifying their recipe to ¾ ounce amaro instead of the prescribed 1 ounce.”
Sagamore Spirit (official tasting notes):
“A complex floral nose followed by flavors of orange, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon and ending with a mild bitter finish. Palate: Citrus, dried berries, and an aromatic spice blend end with a satisfying bitter finish, mellowed by a pleasant sweetness.”
Nose
Old-oak color. A complex floral nose with coriander, cardamom, and gentian root.
Palate
Orange zest, sarsaparilla, and cinnamon, with dried berries and a pronounced cardamom spice, mellowed by a pleasant sweetness.
Finish
Mild and gently bitter.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Herbal Liqueur — Amaro (Rye-Based) |
| ABV / Proof | 30% ABV / 60 Proof |
| Base | 95% rye distillate (same as Sagamore Spirit Rye) |
| Botanicals | Orange, sarsaparilla, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, gentian root |
| Producer | Sagamore Spirit — Baltimore, Maryland |
| Significance | The brand’s first liqueur; billed as the first rye-distillate-based amaro |
| Style / Identity | A spicy, orange-and-sarsaparilla amaro built to pair with rye whiskey |
| Aromas & Flavors | Orange zest, sarsaparilla, cinnamon, cardamom, dried berries |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Black Manhattan — the brand’s signature: rye whiskey, Sagamore Amaro, bitters, and a whiskey cherry. The brand recipe is two parts rye to one part amaro; for a more rye-forward drink, try ¾ ounce of amaro.
Neat or over ice — as a digestif.
Rye Old Fashioned twist — a barspoon of amaro in place of sugar for added spice and bitterness.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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