Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon

This is the most substantial bottle, with the most substantial cork, I have ever encountered. Picking it up feels like lifting weights, and I nearly always fumble the cork when removing it due to its expected standard weight. However, it's a quite attractive bottle, and I appreciate the Frey family's transparency in listing the exact mash bill. I just wish they included an age statement too; it's a straight bourbon, at least four years old without one, but I'd prefer a specific age. This bottle cost $48.99 at Total Wine and appears as a dark copper color in the glass, similar to an old penny. The mash bill is 66.6% corn, 10% wheat, 11.4% rye, and 12% barley, classifying it as a four-grain bourbon, with all grains sourced from the Frey family farm. Smell: The initial and most prominent aroma is yellow apples, reminiscent of my first taste of Clyde May's bourbon, but this apple note persists even after the third glass, unlike May's which fades with air exposure. Following that, I detected an indistinct grain aroma, honey, a pleasant earthy note, and finally, a distinct corn scent emerged. Texture: Smooth. Taste: I suspect the fan's breeze, even from the side, cooled the spirit noticeably, perhaps muting the full palate experience. I detected honey, cinnamon, yellow apples, and brown sugar. Without the fan's cooling effect, I might have perceived more, although my palate typically registers less than my sense of smell. Conclusion: The finish started with a touch of oak, briefly shifting to cinnamon before more oak returned, which lingered for an extended period. Overall: Even accounting for the fan's cooling impact, which subdued the flavors, I question if this spirit is worth $49. Nevertheless, it's a quality product. The palate did not live up to the exceptional nose, and again, considering the fan and my usual palate perception, the taste falls short of the aroma. I believe a higher proof would yield more intense and distinct flavors; reduced proof also diminishes congeners. However, please don't misunderstand, I do enjoy this spirit. I might even purchase another bottle at that price once this one is finished. Score: I deliberated on the score. On one hand, I'm uncertain about the value for the price. On the other hand, considering various factors, I feel it's better than my tasting revealed. Ultimately, I assigned it a 6 on my personal scale, which I call 'Fine' (the highest being 8). This corresponds to 3.75 stars, 7.5/10, or 75/100.

When I first sampled this at a bar almost two years ago (March 26, 2022), I didn't particularly care for it. Since then, I've realized I really need to sit down with at least two glasses, without any distractions, to truly focus on what I'm experiencing. Now that I've finally had that chance, I can say this is a solid pour. Color: Medium Copper-Amber. Nose: A typical bourbon aroma of oak and what I'd call "grain." After all, it contains four grains. Also, leather. Palate: (Consumed with a large ice ball) Tart cherry, mint, oak tannins, with a balanced blend of sweet and spicy. I detect a nice dose of "grain" in the final, slightly diluted sips of the first glass. On the second glass... there's the caramel! Nice. Finish: I'd describe it as "medium." The spiciness seems to be the dominant characteristic in the finish of most bourbons I've had, and this is no exception. Initially, I rated this 3 stars. I'm increasing it to 3.25 stars.

[1.30.24] The online advertising was insistent that I needed this bottle (nice bottle, heavy glass!) ever since Thanksgiving. After a disappointing season of lotteries and a failed attempt to get a Weller release, this was my consolation bottle when it became available that same night. And it's good. Good, but not great. For an organic bottle with locally grown grains and a 4-cereal blend with a compelling story, I gave this 4 stars. But the bourbon itself isn't outstanding. It's clearly high corn, very sweet, almost like a vanilla-scented candle. Especially easy to drink and if it weren't for the price, it could substitute my usual choice for late-night indulgence. I probably won't keep this stocked on the shelf unless the price drops about $10.

A complex, Farm-to-Glass, Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers in Nevada, made with non-GMO 66.6% corn, 11.4% winter rye, 10% winter wheat, and 12% two-row barley in a 3-Tower Vendome still. It is aged for five years in new American white oak barrels before being bottled at 90 proof. It starts with an aromatic bouquet of grains, wood, fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; a dry & velvety middle adds notes of cherry, cranberry, sourdough bread & turbinado sugar; leading to a long & hot conclusion with notes of oak, vanilla, baked granola & a touch of cinnamon.

Good. This isn't quite as exceptional or distinctive as the Frey Ranch Rye, but their bourbon is an excellent example of well-executed craft whiskey. I'm unsure of its age beyond the minimum of four years due to the lack of an age statement, but I wonder if further aging would enhance it. Nevertheless, this is certainly worth exploring; while there might be better and cheaper bourbons available, these producers are doing things correctly and show great potential.

Flaviar advent calendar day #17 Smell: vanilla, oak, sourdough. Musty grain? Cranberry, corn, some minerality. Buttery graham cracker Palate: spiced and toasty oak. Cinnamon, Brown sugar, notably spicy. Oily. Quite fruity, but not cloyingly sweet. More like baked fruit. Some sweet oak too. A hint of petrichor, very pronounced wood oil notes as it moves to the finish Conclusion: oily yet dry, toasted oak and a hint of mint.