
Episode #432
Episode 430: Sagamore Rye Kingston Cider Cask Finished
Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan keep the Baltimore rye double-header rolling after yesterday’s Patreon Drink-Along by cracking into an absolute unicorn from Sagamore Spirit’s finishing lab: the Sagamore Spirit Kingston Cider Cask Finish! (Huge shoutout to JPEG for helping secure this bottle!) Before diving into the pour, the guys celebrate Bryan’s 3-year "YouTube-iversary" on the show, share funny stories from parenthood (from toddler library dates and Laurie Berkner bops to broken children's book rhyming meter), and get deeply real about family, health, and treasuring every moment with our fathers. History Deep Dive: Maryland Rye & The 4-Year Cider Maturation Cole breaks down the historical and technical backstory behind this unique pour: • Colonial Crossover: How 18th-century Maryland farmers balanced rye grain harvests with apple orchards, distilling rye whiskey and pressing hard cider side-by-side on colonial homesteads. • The Holy Grail Apple: Why the English heritage Kingston Black apple is considered the gold standard "bittersharp" cider apple, providing natural tannins and acidity that ordinary table apples lack. • True Double Maturation: Why this isn't a quick 3-to-6 month finish—Sagamore aged their signature Maryland-style straight rye for 5 years in new oak, followed by an unprecedented 4 full years in Kingston Black cider casks, bottling it at an elevated 98.6 proof. Whiskey World News: India's "Blue Gold" Agave Boom • Move over Tequila and Mezcal—India's Deccan Plateau is emerging as a global agave hotspot! The guys examine the explosive rise of Indian agave spirits (growing at ~31% annually) produced from wild Agave Americana by craft pioneers like DesmondNazareth and Maya Pistola Agavepura. Could Indian agave spirits take the American market by storm? ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? • Last Week’s Results ($2,000 Secondary Gift Card): Abraham Bowman 11-Year Rye took the crown with 47% of the vote, narrowly edging out Jack Daniel's Coy Hill (42%), while Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Barrel 80 trailed at 11%. • This Week’s Question: When you're NOT drinking whiskey, what are you reaching for? Are you a beer fan, wine lover, or cocktail sipper? ◦ Cole: Leaning into cocktails—specifically margaritas and rum old fashioneds. ◦ Bryan: Cocktails, heavily favoring funky, high-ester Jamaican rums (talking dunder, muck pits, and hogo funk!). Episode Ratings & Final Verdict • Sagamore Spirit Kingston Cider Cask Finish (98.6 Proof / 9 Years Total Age) ◦ Cole's Score: A- (9.1 / 10) (A delicious, refreshing pour with baked orchard apple, honey, and cinnamon pastry that transitions beautifully into a bold, spicy Maryland rye finish) ◦ Bryan's Score: B+ (Rich viscosity and apple pie sweetness on the landing that keeps the herbal rye notes in check—an exemplary barrel finish done right) Coming Up Next on Chill Filtered Tune in next week as the guys return to Ireland to review the highly anticipated Gold Spot 13-Year Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey! Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered&utm_source=gemini)

