Butterscotch | Peppermint patty | Charred oak | Vanilla | Seared mint | Orange peel

Bold rye spice | Rye bread | Mint | Chewy oak | Chocolate | Rye grain

Barrel-aged vanilla | Rye spice | Seasoned oak | Black pepper | Slightly dry

Frey Ranch Distillery is an estate distillery located in northern Nevada. On this 165 year old, 1,500-acre family farm, they grow all of their grains, malt their barley onsite, and the whiskey is both produced and aged on their grounds. The whiskey goes through both a continuous still and a pot still, which, according to the company, “allows us to produce a large quantity from the continuous still while also being able to consistently take heads, hearts and tails cuts (better quality/control) that a pot still provides.” In 2006, they became the first licensed distillery in Nevada since the advent of Prohibition. First offering just vodka, they distilled their first batch of bourbon in 2015 and released it to market in 2020.

Along with their farm-to-glass bourbon, their rye whiskeys have been slowly improving with age. Though many say rye is better young, Frey Ranch rye is definitely improving with additional time in the barrel. Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye, now a permanent expression in the company's brand portfolio, features a 6 year age statement, and it brings with it a lot of improvements over its previous, younger releases.

From start to finish, there is much more body to the whiskey, including the aroma compared to past releases. Featuring scents of rich butterscotch, peppermint patty, charred oak, and vanilla with a pop of seared mint and orange peel, the aroma has much more presence. Similarly, the palate starts with bold rye spice that may stop you in your tracks. It’s followed by rye bread, mint, chewy oak, and chocolate. Rye grain is still present - which is part of Frey Ranch’s trademark flavor profile - but it's much more grounded and mature. The finish offers rich barrel-aged vanilla, before the rye spice returns, with seasoned oak and black pepper taking over. It concludes with a slightly dry aftertaste.

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye is a rye that forgoes fruit notes in favor of doubling down on rye spice. At just over 124 proof, it drinks considerably lower than that without forgoing any of its intensity. Though it lacks the extra complexity and playfulness of more dynamic ryes, its overall improvements over some of the company's first releases are clear as day. Frey Ranch’s rye is now a contender in its current state, with further improvements likely to come.