Leading the Revival of Maryland Rye

This week on the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I got to cross off another long-awaited guest: Sagamore Spirit. Situated harborside in downtown Baltimore, Sagamore's campus is among the more beautiful I've visited. The 5-acre plot centers around Penny, their 40' copper column still, which has (almost) single-handedly managed their transition from MGP-sourced rye to 100% Maryland-distilled rye, which now fills the vast majority of their bottles.

Few brands have moved from sourcing to their own distillate as seamlessly or as transparently. Along the way, Sagamore Spirit (no "s" because they'll only ever make one) has played with numerous finishes, including award-winning port cask and unique mead and beer finishes from nearby partners. Not to mention their one-off Calvados-finished Rye, which I still rank as one of the best pours I've ever had.

Sagamore is no longer alone in their promotion of Maryland Rye, with previous guests like Baltimore Spirits Co. also flying the banner, but it's hard to argue that Sagamore isn't leading the way, whether by volume, shelf space, or distribution reach. Ryan Norwood has been with Sagamore for several years and joins me to talk hospitality, building a rye brand for Maryland starting with Indiana distillate, and how their ongoing connection to the Vanderbilt-owned Sagamore Farm informs their branding, bottles, and their surprising decision to leave horses off the label.

Thank you to Ryan for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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Sagamore Spirit

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Waves, Whiskey, and Wild Tasmania: The Waubs Harbour Story

Nestled on the rugged East Coast of Tasmania, Waubs Harbour Distillery emerges as a maritime whiskey revelation that challenges everything you thought you knew about Tasmanian spirits. Founded by Tim and Bec Polmear, with distiller (and Tim's brother) Rob bringing scientific precision and deep industry experience, this distillery is a testament to the power of provenance and passion. Situated in a former oyster hatchery literally meters from the wild Southern Ocean, Waubs Harbour crafts a single malt that captures the essence of its environment - salt-kissed, windswept, and unapologetically Tasmanian.

The distillery's commitment to quality over quantity is evident in every aspect of their production. Using 100% Tasmanian barley, custom-cultivated yeasts, and an on-site cooperage, Waubs Harbour represents a new wave of craft distilleries that prioritize terroir and technique over mass production. Their unique maritime maturation process, where barrels breathe the pure oceanic air, creates a whiskey profile that is both subtle and complex - with subtle saline notes that hint at the wild environment of its birth. Their experimental approach, from locally sourced peat to custom-built smoking equipment, demonstrates a willingness to push boundaries while respecting traditional craft.

Awards from the World Whiskey Awards and Spirits Masters have already begun to put Waubs Harbour on the global whiskey map, but for Tim and his team, it's never been about accolades. It's about capturing a moment, a place, a lifestyle - the maritime spirit of Tasmania distilled into every carefully crafted bottle. With a production model that focuses on quality, a commitment to local ingredients, and a deep love for their craft, Waubs Harbour is more than a distillery - it's a love letter to Tasmania, written in the language of whiskey.

Thank you to Tim for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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Waubs Harbor Distillery

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Our First Venture To South Dakota

Black Fork Farms' roots trace back to Gordon Omen's great-great-grandfather, Poppy J Omen, who immigrated from Germany and farmed in Southwest Minnesota. The distillery operates on the same land where Gordon grew up, now primarily dedicated to distilling operations. Gordon's inspiration came during a trip to Budapest, where he experienced a field-to-glass bourbon that sparked his vision for creating something similar using his family's agricultural expertise.

While not a control state, South Dakota has its own share of challenges - distribution, limited visitor traffic, and some of the coldest weather in the lower 48. Tyler joins me to talk through these challenges and how BlackFork Farms is overcoming them.

It's a small operation, but boy that gift pack was beautiful, and they clearly care about the grain and cask - and that's all that matters.

Thank you to Tyler for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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BlackFork Farms

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A Weirdly Timed Episode...

Let's get the awkwardness out of the way - I had the pleasure of interviewing Mel Maddox, now-former Master Blender for Old Elk, on May 2nd. A few days later, it was announced that Old Elk had been acquired by Middle West Spirits (a previous guest!) and, subsequently, all workings at their Fort Collins, Colorado location were ceasing. This included laying off all production staff, including Mel.

This was still a wonderful conversation in which I learned about Old Elk, but my favorite part was learning more about Mel. The way she looks at whiskey when creating a blend is synesthetic, hard to describe to those who haven't experienced what color something tastes like or the what shape a mashbill makes in your mind. It's a beautiful talent (my version is seeing sounds in color) that is at once intangible and singular.

Long story short...I don't know what the next steps are for Old Elk, or for Mel, but I wish them both the best. I think Old Elk was putting out the best stuff it ever had, and clearly her talents were on full display in blending and finishing. We as whiskey enthusiasts can only hope her next role continues to rely on those talents.

Thank you to Mel for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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Old Elk Distillery

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Geese, Barley, and Peat At The First New Islay Distillery in 124 Years

In this brand new episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with James Wills, son of founder Anthony Wills and a worldwide face of Kilchoman Distillery on Islay. This episode marks a significant milestone as it is my first interview with an Islay distillery (I was surprised too!), and I was excited to delve into the unique aspects of Kilchoman and the challenges of distilling on this iconic island.

We start off where any good whisky podcast starts: with geese. Yes, geese. They're kind of a big deal there. I'm not known for going with the grain (yeah I said it) so why not there. Kilchoman has a lot more going for it, though, as it enters its 20th year in 2025. As the first new Islay distillery in 124 years, Kilchoman needed to be different. They couldn't just be peaty, they had to be unique - and thus they became the first farm-to-glass distillery on the island.

We chat about all the nerdy stuff you'd expect, like barley experimentation and yeast and fermentation, plus a dive into how their bourbon barrel sourcing and full-term maturation (note: not finishing!) work. There's also plenty to explore about the "whys" and inflection points in the distillery's two-decade evolution.

I've been wanting to have Kilchoman on for two years, and I'm thrilled to finally make that happen for the podcast and for you, the listeners and supporters.

Thank you to James for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

Kilchoman Distillery

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One Distillery, Two Time Zones, and Corsets and Whips, Oh My!

Husband-and-wife team BIll and Johanna Welter came to whiskey through very different paths - thankfully, their union has produced not one, but two distilleries from which Journeyman's whiskies and spirits spring forth. Bill's passion for golf led him to St. Andrews, Scotland; Johanna's path led through hospitality, drinking whiskey at a time when "most women were drinking cosmos".

Somehow, Journeyman is still an under-the-radar distillery, albeit one with two locations (in Three Oaks, Michigan and Valparaiso, Indiana). For those in the know, they're producing some of the best wheat and wheated whiskey in the country, and for this episode I got to try their high-rye cask strength bourbon which, for my mind, might be even better than their wheaters. And to be clear, their wheated products are exempt from my recent distaste for wheaters...they are complete whiskies, whether one grain or multiple, and remain some of the few I'd have on my shelf.

Journeyman also holds distinction as a long-tenured distillery in the craft scene, launched in 2011 during the end of the first wave or beginning of the second (Bill wasn't quite sure, so we'll hedge!). They've turned that presence into their own formal and informal mentorship programs, lending help and knowledge to a new generation of distillers.

We also touch on the impact of recent tariffs and their Ingrained program, opening up contract distilling to producers without their own capacity in Journeyman's new 140,000 square foot Valparaiso location.

Thank you to Bill and Johanna for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
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_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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Journeyman Distillery

• Journeyman Website
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Bourbon Pursuit and Pursuit Spirits Enter the Whiskey Ring

What do you ask when your guests have over 1,000 podcast episodes over three shows and 10 years? That was my task this week - let me know how I did!

My guests are Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil, hosts of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast and founders of Pursuit Spirits, an NDP grown out of their love of bourbon and rye and, in my mind, the dream that many of us on this side of the mic think about in our wildest fantasies.

The first thing, though is simple: with a full-time business (opening a new, second physical location and eventually aiming for 50,000 6-pack cases per year), three shows, and full-time jobs, how do they manage their time? How do you keep all the plates in the air? How do you take a piss-in-your-cheerios type like Kenny and keep the momentum up through challenges?

If you're a long-time listener of Bourbon Pursuit, Behind the Pursuit, and Whiskey Quickies, you'll know most of their story, and I didn't want to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we dove into their business model, the changes in drinking habits over 10 years of podcasting and running a whiskey business, and how once in awhile their wives will still hold it over them that it was the wives who introduced the two guys all that time ago.

There are also deeper questions. We keep hearing brands have to own their backyard before growing further, but there's an asterisk: unless you live in Kentucky, where you simply can't own your backyard. How do you create a subscription model that incentivizes people to stay with you without overwhelming or outpricing them?

And finally, there's a new question adapted from *nerdiness alert* The History of Egypt Podcast: if there was one thing in whiskey that is currently unknown or uncertain and you could know or be sure, what would it be? The answer might surprise you - it certainly surprised me!

Thank you to Kenny and Ryan for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
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• BAXUS on LinkedIn

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

Pursuit Spirits

• Pursuit Spirits Website
• Pursuit Spirits on Instagram
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• Pursuit Spirits on X

Bourbon Pursuit

• Bourbon Pursuit Website
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• Bourbon Pursuit on Facebook
• Bourbon Pursuit on YouTube
• Bourbon Pursuit on X

From Neighbors to Distillers: The Story Behind Oaklore Distilling Co.

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt Simpkins and Tom Bogan, the co-founders of Oaklore Distilling in North Carolina. Their journey began as neighbors bonding over their shared passion for whiskey while walking their kids to the bus stop. What started as casual "Tuesday drinking" sessions evolved into a deep dive into the world of whiskey, leading them to create their own distillery with a mission to produce a whiskey they would want to drink themselves.

We explored the challenges of operating in North Carolina, a control state with specific regulations (though with a very friendly town!), and how they navigated these hurdles while experimenting with different finishes and mash bills. Their commitment to using locally sourced grains is evident in their North Carolina Straight Rye Whiskey, which I greatly enjoyed as a mid-spice rye (70/20/10) that isn't to bourbon-y or to herby. The conversation also highlighted their collaborative spirit within the whiskey community, drawing inspiration from established distillers like the Nelson brothers and John Hargrove, who provided invaluable guidance during their startup phase.

Towards the end of the episode, we delved into their finishing series, including offerings like port wine and honey finishes, which reflect their personal stories and relationships with wineries including San Sebastian, the port producer we recently mentioned in last week's St. Augustine Distillery epsiode. This episode is a fascinating look into Oaklore Distilling's creative process, the challenges of starting a distillery, and their dedication to producing high-quality whiskey that embodies their passion and the rich heritage of North Carolina.

Thank you to Tom and Matt for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
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• BAXUS on Twitter/X
• BAXUS on LinkedIn

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

Oaklore Distilling Co.

• Oaklore Distilling Co. Website
• Oaklore Distilling Co. on Instagram
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• Oaklore Distilling Co. on LinkedIn