{"id":29978,"date":"2026-08-13T15:01:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T19:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=29978"},"modified":"2026-08-13T15:01:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T19:01:41","slug":"marylands-best-third-annual-farmers-choice-award-honors-sagamore-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2026\/08\/13\/marylands-best-third-annual-farmers-choice-award-honors-sagamore-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland’s Best Third Annual Farmers Choice Award Honors Sagamore Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 12, 2026)–<\/strong>Maryland\u2019s Best\u2014the Maryland Department of Agriculture\u2019s marketing program\u2014and the Maryland Grain Producers Association is proud to announce that Sagamore Spirit<\/a> has been selected as the 2026 Farmer\u2019s Choice Award winner.<\/p>\n

This competition features only those whiskeys made with at least 50% Maryland grain or corn. Now in its third year, it was designed to encourage distilleries to use locally-grown grain, bringing recognition to both industries. The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize from the Maryland Grain Producers Association, a plaque from Maryland\u2019s Best and the ability to use the Farmer\u2019s Choice logo on their products.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud to have a history of making amazing rye whiskeys in Maryland,\u201d said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. \u201cIt is fitting that the winning bottle this year featured 100% rye ingredients grown in Maryland. I encourage you to seek out rye whiskeys across the state and taste the greatness for yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

The winning bottle was Sagamore Pot Still Series: Rye Malt Whiskey and featured 34% rye and 66% malted rye, and was aged for seven years in white oak char barrels. The rye was grown by Hickory Hollow Farm<\/a>, of Carroll County, and malted by Bear Branch Malt<\/a>, also of Carroll County. While the current edition is sold out, Sagamore plans to continue to release special releases that are 100% Maryland made.<\/p>\n

\"Bottle<\/a><\/p>\n

Image by Rachel Felver\/MDA. Sagamore Pot Still Series: Rye Malt Whiskey<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re fortunate to live and work in a place that offers every resource needed to craft world-class whiskey. This Rye Malt Whiskey showcases\u00a0 \u00a0Maryland grain, oak and ingenuity. While this is the first fully aged whiskey we\u2019ve released featuring 100% local ingredients, we look forward\u00a0 \u00a0to releasing many more,\u201d said Max Hames, head distiller at Sagamore Spirit.<\/p>\n

Though the competition was fierce, there could only be one winner in the end. In addition to Sagamore Spirits, bottles were also submitted from \u00a0McClintock Distilling<\/a>, Meinelschmidt Distillery<\/a>, Pathfinder Farm Distillery<\/a>, Song Dog Farm Distillery<\/a>, Tenth Ward Distilling<\/a> and Tobacco Barn\u00a0 Distillery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The judges for this year\u2019s competition included Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, Chichi Nyagah-Nash, Maryland Department of\u00a0 \u00a0Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, grain farmer Jason Scott and Golden\u00a0 \u00a0West Beverage Director Dee Acosta.<\/p>\n

To involve even more farmers and industry agriculture leaders in the fun, a second competition is held at the annual Maryland Commodity\u00a0 \u00a0Classic hosted by the Maryland Grain Producers Association. This cocktail competition is open to any spirit that has 50% or more local grain or\u00a0 \u00a0corn as their base and attendees vote for their favorite. This year\u2019s competition featured five cocktails with a first, second and third place\u00a0 \u00a0winner:<\/p>\n