Sagamore Spirit Brings Back Rye Whiskey That Leaves ‘a Parting Kiss’ Of the Classic Manhattan With Distinctive Finishing Process

Sagamore Spirit announced on Tuesday that the Maryland whiskey brand is bringing back what it considers a “fan favorite” — a rye whiskey that deconstructs the classic Manhattan cocktail.

The whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $79.99 and can be found at the Sagamore distillery in Baltimore and in select U.S. markets.

Sagamore Manhattan Finish clocks in at 103 proof and is a 4-year-old rye finished in vermouth, bitters and cherry brandy barrels for at least 20 months. The brand first released the whiskey in 2020 in limited quantities and is bringing it back because of its success.

“The original idea for Manhattan Finish back in 2020 challenged us to fully deconstruct the flavors of a Manhattan to create a full-proof whiskey that leaves you with a parting kiss of the cocktail,” Sagamore Spirit Vice President of Operations Ryan Norwood said in a statement.

The brand claims the rye whiskey is spicy and herbaceous, with plenty of cherry, vanilla and honey notes. Sagamore recommends using the whiskey in a Black Manhattan cocktail.

The Manhattan: A Cocktail With a Murky Origin Story

Though the history of The Manhattan is largely a murky one, Chilled Magazine reports its origins date back to the late 1800s at The Manhattan Club in New York.

The story goes that Dr. Iain Marshall invented the cocktail for Lady Randolph Churchill at a party celebrating the newly-elected governor of New York, Samuel J. Tilden.

If the last name “Churchill” sounds familiar — it should. Lady Churchill was Winston Churchill’s mom. Interestingly enough, this story has its flaws, as Lady Churchill was allegedly giving birth to Winston at the time of the party — or so some people claim.

Wine Enthusiast cites another origin story behind this legendary libation which involves a mysterious New York City bartender who went by the name of Black. Black was making drinks at a local bar and came up with the drink.

Whatever story you believe, the popularity of this whiskey cocktail is undeniable. If you’re interested in exploring other rye whiskeys for your Manhattan mixology endeavors, be sure to check out our list of the “6 Best Rye Whiskeys For a Manhattan.”

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