This was my entry for the innagural 2020 Sagamore Rye cocktail competition. I moved to the D.C. metro area a few years ago and have spent a lot of that time on the road. Whether it's been frequent travel to NYC or daily driving between Baltimore and D.C., I-95 has become a familiar sight. When I thought about what Maryland meant to me, my first thought was the countless road trips down 95. I discovered a lot of cool places along the way and one of those was the Sagamore Distillery.

I always drove by the Sagamore water tower in Baltimore and eventually decided to satisfy my curiosity during a drive home and fell in love with their whiskey. I wanted to make a cocktail that showcased the great rye of Sagamore and was a trip of flavors and inspiration just like my travels down 95.

I started with a Brooklyn cocktail since I was driving there frequently to see my fiancée. I then decided to take bits and pieces of my favorite rye cocktails to showcase both my own cocktail journey and cocktails from around the country. The combination was delicious but, missing something.

When you travel a lot you miss home and what screams "home" more than freshly baked apple pie? That was inspiration to incorporate apple brandy and tiki bitters for a spiced apple aroma that brings the drink together. This cocktail is a story and a delicious companion.