On a recent trip to Portland, Maine we wanted to slow down and have a drink before our dinner reservations at 8 pm. After a day of some business and some exploration and wanted to get to one of Portland’s premiere modern bar, Sagamore Hill, before our planned culinary feast at the Bluefin Restaurant. The architecturally handsome space is spacious and the shelves of premium and exceptional spirits on full display behind the bar are instantly impressive. Equally impressive was the conversation we had with owner Ryan Deskins who created a bar that is polished, yet unpretentious and embued with the rugged charm and larger than life personality of Sagamore Hills famous resident, and perhaps America’s most bad-ass president Theodore Roosevelt. Ryan poured us a steller glass of 13-year old straight rye. The WhistlePig The Boss Hog Vth edition: “The Spirit of Mauve,” which was indeed sublime, smooth and richly rewarding and one of the jewels within the collection of WhistlePig and other spirits at Sagamore Hill.

WhistlePig is the most awarded Rye Whiskey maker in the world and can only be found in select spots throughout the world. In 2007, a group of dedicated Rye enthusiasts bought a farm and teamed up with master distiller Dave Pickerell, formerly of Maker’s Mark to bring genuine Rye Whiskey back to the forefront of American Whiskies. It took a lot of time, patience, experimentation, and reinvestment, and with their effort, they have grown to produce award-winning products.

We tore ourselves away from this chic and vibrant hot spot at 8:30 and strolled downhill to the restaurant hoping our reservations would still be honored. Thankfully they were and our first perfect evening in Portland could not have been more hip, cosmopolitan and delectable. WhistlePig.

Visit Portland.

Photography: David Lewis Taylor