Sagamore Spirit Kicks Off Second Annual “Distiller for a Day” Sweepstakes

Sagamore Spirit, the Baltimore-based leader of Maryland’s rye revival, has launched its second annual “Distiller for a Day” program. Sagamore is running a sweepstakes through June 30th that will award one lucky winner the opportunity to travel to the waterfront distillery for an immersive distilling experience.

Sagamore regularly offers facility tours as part of its distillery experiences program, which also includes a whisky bar and concerts in the summer. But the “Distiller for a Day” experience is much more robust and interactive. The winner (and one guest) will work alongside the distilling team—from cooking mash to fermenting and distilling rye using Sagamore’s 40-foot column still nicknamed Penny—playing a part in the entire production process. The winner and guest will receive roundtrip airfare, two-night hotel accommodation, and dinner.

Entry forms for the sweepstakes can be found on Sagamore’s social media pages or the distillery website, as well as at participating liquor stores. These stores have program signs with a scannable QR code, which links to an online form—no purchase necessary. Unlike last year’s program, which saw three winners visit the distillery, there will only be one winner selected this year.

The sweepstakes comes on the heels of an eventful year for Sagamore. In September, the distillery was acquired by Illva Saronno, the Italian drinks company most famous for its Disaronno amaretto liqueur brand. The distillery also released a handful of exciting expressions, including a new edition of its port-finished rye, the oldest bonded rye we’ve seen from them thus far, and its annual Penny’s Proof whisky, which was entirely made using Sagamore’s distillate.

Sagamore hasn't scheduled an exact date for the trip yet, but it’s tentatively set for sometime between July and September. A full list of the rules can be found on the distillery’s website. Enrollment is currently open and is set to close on June 30th.