Baltimore

RISING high above the new Sagamore Spirit distillery in South Baltimore is a white water tower with three maroon diamonds on each side, a nod to the jockey silks of the thoroughbred farm that provides the spring water for the company's rye whiskey.

The distillery, which opened a few weeks ago, is the latest endeavour of the growing business empire of Kevin A Plank, founder and chief executive of the sportswear company Under Armour. His new enterprises - collectively they are called Plank Industries but nearly all have Sagamore in their names - are reshaping Baltimore's waterfront and restoring lustre to Maryland traditions and landmarks.