Review of Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon (2025)

 

In Fallon, Nevada, there is a farm called Frey Ranch. It is a working ranch dating back to 1854, and for the last several years, they've been distilling whiskey, making it an estate-grown, grain-to-glass operation. 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. 

 

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.

 

A few weeks ago, I reviewed Frey Ranch’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye, and it earned my Bottle rating. Today, we’re going to explore its Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon.

 

“Every time we blend a small batch of our flagship four-grain bourbon, we taste it at cask strength before we ‘proof it down’ to our signature 90 proof. We always fall in love with the uncut flavor, now you can too with the addition of this ‘Farm Strength’ version of our flagship bourbon […] We named it ‘Farm Strength’, inspired by how we like to enjoy our whiskey on the ranch. As with all our whiskeys, this one is made from 100% grains grown on the Frey Ranch.” – Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillery

 

Each batch is slightly different, ranging between 120° and 132°, and it carries no age statement.

 

Before I get to the #DrinkCurious part, I’m grateful to Frey Ranch for providing me with a sample of this Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers
• Age: NAS (at least four years)
• Mashbill: 66.6% non-GMO dent corn, 12% two-row barley, 11.4% winter rye, and 10% soft, white winter wheat
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon barrels, #4 char staves with #3 charred heads
• Alcohol Content: 62.58% ABV (125.16°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.00
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass and experienced it neat. Its dark topaz color was inviting, and the whiskey formed a thin rim with massive, tightly-packed, slow tears.

 

Nose: I allowed the Bourbon to breathe for about 15 minutes prior to further exploration. Once I brought the glass under my nose, I smelled ripe, red apples, cinnamon, corn, oak, and nutmeg. The boldness of the apples was eyebrow-raising (I’ll chalk that up to the heavier malt content). Drawing the air through my lips exposed me to the taste of pears.

 

Palate: Farm Strength’s texture was oily and coated the entirety of my mouth. I encountered flavors of baked apples, cinnamon, and caramel on the front of my palate; it was very dessert-like. My mid-palate found notes of nutmeg, corn, and tobacco leaf. The back consisted of black pepper, clove, and charred oak.

 

Finish: While it started softly, most of the finish was like pulling the pin from a grenade and standing nearby. Suddenly, the spice notes exploded, showering my mouth and throat with black pepper, oak spice, and cinnamon sticks. Yet, once the shrapnel cleared, it became soft again, allowing me to identify apples, caramel, and corn effortlessly. I timed the whole thing at 1:59, making for a long duration. It left the roof of my mouth tingling.

 

With Water: That finish is what made me wonder what adding water would accomplish. I’m pretty Type-A about this; I use an eyedropper to insert exactly two drops of distilled water into an ounce of whiskey and give it a gentle swirl. I’m often fascinated by how the water interacts with the esters, and today was no exception.

 

The water enhanced the caramel notes on the nose while diluting the influence of red apples. I found the mouthfeel to be buttery, and while most of the palate remained similar, the finish was significantly subdued. That finish was still spicy; it remained otherwise unchanged.   

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There is much to love about Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon. It boasts an enchanting nose, a flavorful palate, and a finish that grabs your head by your ears and stares intensely into your eyes. I don’t mean for that to sound overpowering, yet, it is intense.

 

Try as I might, I can’t think of any negatives. I wish I knew how old this Bourbon is; yeah, age is just a number, but I’m guessing it's somewhere between five and seven years old.

 

Would I buy this Bourbon at its stated price? I’d do it in a heartbeat. It is an estate-grown whiskey that’s worth owning. I’m thrilled to have a Bottle in my Whiskey Library. 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.