Frey Ranch Bottled in Bond Straight Rye

This bottle was a gift and isn't sold in my area, so no price is available. The nose immediately offers vanilla, white grapefruit, and pepper, with lighter hints of smoke and burnt sugar. Digging deeper, a marmalade note emerges. The initial taste coats the tongue with sugary notes, and a gentle spice tickles the back of the throat. The teeth are also coated, filling the mouth with a long-lasting finish. It's lovely. Subsequent sips reveal more citrus and mellow the spices, with brown sugar and vanilla becoming more dominant. The upper palate is now coated, with most of the flavor lingering there. This is a very fine rye and deserves a place on any bar. Nose: 4.5/5 Taste: 4.25/5 Overall 4.3/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Special Occasion

Batch 3, Bottle 1579 out of 3500. Light banana, dry grass, and ethanol on the nose. Spicy rye, vanilla oak, sweet grain, and dried fruit in the mouth. Sweetness and spice contend with each other in the moderately long finish. It has a medium mouthfeel and a dark golden straw color. It's pleasant to drink neat or with an ice cube. A robust and dependable straight rye at 50% ABV with a compelling local origin story, from farm to barrel to bottle. Cheers to that! And that wide, squat, and thick bottle has an extra-thick glass bottom, plus a heavy oversized metal cap on the synthetic stopper. All that makes this a surprisingly HEAVY item to lift and pour. That presentation must contribute somewhat to the cost, $58, which is significant. That said, it's still a rye worth seeking out and trying.

NOSE Caramel corn, rye bread, freshly baked muffins, copper, vanilla custard, caramel candy, and a subtle nutty note with some baking spice and oak. If I had to describe the aroma in one word, it would be 'fresh.' It's so clean, complex, and intriguing despite its lack of oak... I'm impressed. PALATE Grainy sweet, oak, herbal spice, vanilla custard, caramel candy, citrus peels, and cocoa with a hint of dill and earth. It's not quite as clean and crisp as the aroma; it's more earthy and grounded. It feels heavier. FINISH Medium-long, with dilly baking spice, oak, and a bit of fruit fading out.

A robust, Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey from Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers in Nevada, made with 100% sustainably grown Winter Cereal Rye using a Vendome still. It was aged in new American white oak barrels for at least 2 years and bottled at 100 proof. Its aromatic start includes notes of grain, wood, fruits, herbs & spices; a full & spicy character follows with notes of rye spice, raisin, citrus, vanilla & caramel; concluding with a warm, medium-length finish of pepper, oak, honey-butter, ginger & cocoa. December 2023

Flaviar sample box "Ryenaissance" July, 2022 Sample C Pour/Color: The deepest of the three, yet it appears relatively light in density. Nose: Wonderful, profound, and quite intricate. Notes of floral caramel. First taste: A burst of rye spice, but bourbon-like vanillas, molasses, caramels, and chocolate are present and notably mellow. Lingering: Dark chocolate and sweet notes remain. Score: 3.5 (the best of the three; I'm undecided about purchasing it).

I give Frey Ranch a perfect score for their commitment to sustainability in how they produce their bourbon and rye. This drinks like a spirit from an established craft distillery. It's a delicious product, and I would purchase it again. Their rye is superior to their bourbon. I'd be keen to try a barrel or cask strength offering, but their bottles are a bit pricey for a trial purchase. I'm pleased to see their distribution expanding.