Drink the Bottles

National Rum Day: A Journey Through the History, Styles & Flavors of Rum August 16 is National Rum Day.   And while we certainly don't need much of an excuse to pour a glass, rum might be one of the most interesting spirits to actually have an excuse for. Rum can be light and crisp, dark and brooding, funky and earthy, sweet and spiced, grassy and vegetal, or rich and contemplative after years in a barrel.   It can be the backbone of a Daiquiri, the soul of a Mai Tai, the tropical star of a Piña Colada, or something you pour into a Glencairn and contemplate for a while.   It can even spend some time in a rum barrel and make a whiskey more interesting. That's exactly what we found when we gathered a collection of bottles specifically for National Rum Day. Our tasting lineup included traditional rums, spiced rums, aged rums, a non-alcoholic rum alternative—and even a Kentucky rye whiskey that spent time in Caribbean rum barrels. So before we get to the bo...

  Three Ryes, One Maryland Story: Exploring Sagamore Whiskey The history of Maryland rye, its remarkable comeback, and our tasting of Sagamore Whiskey’s Small Batch, Double Oak and Cask Strength expressions. There are a lot of places in America that have become synonymous with whiskey.   Kentucky has bourbon. Pennsylvania has its own long rye tradition. Tennessee has Tennessee whiskey. And then there’s Maryland. For much of American whiskey history, Maryland rye was a big deal. Long before craft distilling became fashionable, rye whiskey was being produced throughout the state, and Baltimore had developed a reputation for the style. Maryland rye was generally known for being a little softer and rounder than some of its northern counterparts, while still delivering the peppery spice that makes rye so distinctive. Then Prohibition happened a nd Maryland rye essentially disappeared. Today, there’s a concerted effort to bring it back—and few distilleries have put more ene...