Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Rye Review (2025)

In Fallon, Nevada, there is an outfit called Frey Ranch. It is a working ranch dating back to 1854, and for the last several years, they've been distilling whiskey. When I say distilling, I mean really distilling, not sourcing and bottling someone else's product. Frey Ranch is a complete grain-to-glass (or estate-grown) distillery. Colby Frey, both farmer and distiller, sustainably grows his own grains on over 1500 acres in the Sierra Nevada Watershed. The entire production process takes place on site, with no shortcuts. 

 

“Born from over 165 years of Nevada farming tradition in our family, we are proud to be one of the few distilleries in the world to sustainably grow 100% of our whiskey grains onsite, specifically for making a Ground-To-Glass whiskey unlike any other. Our world-class, slow-grown grains are a point of pride at our Farm + Distillery and are showcased in every sip of Frey Ranch Whiskey.” – Frey Ranch Farm + Distillery

 

Frey Ranch’s whiskeys are attractively packaged in hefty bottles debossed with the ranch's registered brand. The stopper appears to be made of brass and is embossed with the brand. The entire presentation gives a perception of quality. And, with that statement, I'm going to go off on a brief tangent:

 

To state the obvious, packaging is a form of marketing. It offers nothing concerning the real quality of the whiskey inside. When some whiskey fans see an ornate package, it is not unusual to assume those bottles are used to sell lesser whiskeys.

 

In complete transparency, I’m not a stranger to Frey Ranch’s whiskeys; it is a well-respected distillery. I’ve not reviewed any of its core whiskeys since 2020, but I have reviewed a handful of independent bottlings more recently.

 

The subject of today’s review is Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Rye. While it doesn’t carry an age statement, the brand’s website states it spent at least five years in new, charred oak barrels.

 

Before I get further, it is crucial to understand what Bottled-in-Bond means. While there could be a million things going through your mind, the short version is this:

 

To carry Bottled in Bond on the label, the spirit inside must be distilled from a single distiller in a single distilling season (January to June or July to December) and be 100% American-distilled. If the brand is not the distiller, the bottle must clearly state who the distiller is and where it was bottled. The whiskey must be packaged at 50% ABV (100°) and can only be proofed with pure water. It must mature at least four years in a government-bonded warehouse.

 

More than anything, it is part of a consumer protection law – the very first consumer protection law in the USA – stemming from the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

 

As it has been such a long time since I’ve last encountered a Frey Ranch core expression, I must admit that I’m excited to #DrinkCurious. I’m also grateful to Frey Ranch for providing me with a sample of its Bottled-in-Bond Rye in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bottled-in-Bond Rye
• Distiller: Frey Ranch Farm + Distillery
• Age: NAS (5+ years)
• Mashbill: 100% winter rye
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon barrels, #4 char staves with #3 charred heads
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
• Price per 750mL: $59.99
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: I poured this Rye into my Glencairn glass, intending to sip it neat. It possessed a brassy color and formed a medium rim with thick, crazed tears.

 

Nose: After allowing the whiskey to rest for about 15 minutes, I brought my glass beneath my nose and started sniffing. Its aroma included rye spice, oak, vanilla, ginger, and brown sugar. Drawing the air through my lips, I discovered white grapefruit.

 

Palate: A delicate yet velvety mouthfeel started the sipping experience. For whatever reason, I wasn’t expecting that. There was still some palate shock involved, as much of what I tasted was white grapefruit. I took a second sip, and the front of my palate found leather, grapefruit, and fresh ginger. My mid-palate was met with notes of caramel, agave, and dark chocolate. Black pepper, rye spice, and oak were on the back.

 

Finish: Black pepper, rye spice, fresh ginger, oak, and brown sugar remained. It started sweet and slowly added the spice notes. I timed the finish at 1:11, making it a medium duration.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Rye drank more like 92° than its stated 100°, yet that seems to fall in line with the mouthfeel that took me by surprise. What shocked me was that this was a 100% rye mashbill. Many times, when you have 95/5 (95% rye, 5% malted barley) or 100 mashbills, they become spice bombs that also feature strong dill, bold mints, and other notes some people find to be less enjoyable. Instead, Frey Ranch’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye was one of the easiest sippers I’ve had either as a bonded Rye or a 95/5+ mashbill.

 

Is this because of Frey Ranch’s slow-grown grain? Is it the local water used? Is it dumb luck? I have no idea. What I can tell you is that Frey Ranch’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye is a mindgasm. I loved it. Add in the bang-for-the-buck, and it earned every bit of my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.