Rye whiskey distillery opens in Maryland

Balimore-based rye whiskey producer Sagamore Spirit Distillery has opened its doors to the public, complete with a historical visitor experience and three tasting rooms.

Rye whiskey producer Sagamore Spirit Distillery in Baltimore has opened its doors to the public

In partnership with exhibit and experience designer Solid Light, Sagamore Spirit Distillery aims to revive Maryland’s heritage in American whiskey making and tell the stories of Baltimore’s distilling pioneers.

When designing the visitor centre, the team referenced historical documents and interviewed to historians to capture what distilling in Maryland was like pre-Prohibition.

From this they created interactive media elements, including a digital map of Maryland and Baltimore distilling throughout history. The experience takes visitors from the spring waters at Sagamore Farm — trucked in daily to make Sagamore rye whiskey — to the distillery.

Solid Light owner/president Cynthia Torp said: “Everyone felt such passion and enthusiasm for this project, and the more stories we uncovered of Maryland’s history, the more our fascination grew.

“Helping to bring the Sagamore Spirit brand to life, driving and managing the project, and telling the stories of Baltimore’s distilling pioneers was exciting, challenging and fulfilling. This is spatial storytelling that visitors will remember long after they leave.”

“Sagamore Spirit commissioned Solid Light to design and create a unique and memorable experience at the distillery that would inspire all of our guests,” said Brian Treacy, president of Sagamore Spirit. “The team understood what we were trying to accomplish and helped us bring the Sagamore Spirit brand to life, as well as sharing Maryland’s rich distilling history.”