Frey Ranch Single Barrel 5-Grain Bourbon Review

 

photo courtesy of Frey Ranch Distillery

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.

 

I’ve recently reviewed both its Bottled-in-Bond Rye and its Farm Strength Bourbon, and today, I’m exploring Frey Ranch’s Single Barrel 5-Grain Bourbon. Aside from the expected corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley, the fifth grain is oats. Typically, oats in the mash impart a very creamy texture as well as chocolately notes.

 

“Oats are notoriously difficult to distill, but (Master Distiller) Russell Wedlake and I love a challenge. Oat is 60 percent hulls by volume and low on starch, which is problematic for a whiskey maker, as the hulls plug up the stills and the low starch means a lower yield per barrel. For this release, we have less than 350 bottles in total that are available for purchase both online and in the Tasting Room, so these are definitely a get ‘em while they’re hot commodity.” - Colby Frey, Co-Founder

 

Frey Ranch was kind enough to provide me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what this Bourbon is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Barrel Bourbon
• Barrel No.: 3016
• Distiller: Frey Ranch Distillery
• Age: 6 years, 2 months, 1.5 days
• Mashbill: 60% corn, 10% wheat, 10% rye, 10% malted barley, and 10% oats
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new, #4 charred oak barrels with #3 toasted heads
• Alcohol Content: 65.12% ABV (130.24°)
• Price per 750mL: $89.00

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to sip this Bourbon neat. It possessed a reddish hue. While it produced a thinner rim, I observed thick, tightly spaced tears that slowly dropped down the wall.  

 

Nose: Especially considering the proof, I allowed the Bourbon to breathe for about 15 minutes before approaching it. I smelled milk chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, green apples, and confectioner’s sugar. Drawing that air through my lips, it was as if I placed a Hershey’s chocolate bar in my mouth.

 

Palate: The Bourbon’s texture was both airy and silky. Yes, that’s an unusual combination. It also lacked the anticipated warmth from something packaged at 130+°. The front of my palate discovered full-blown oatmeal cookies (no raisins)—the middle featured milk chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. I tasted oak, leather, and ginger spice on the back of my palate.

 

Finish: Ginger, cinnamon, and oak yielded to leather, oatmeal, and chocolate. The leather produced a drying effect that carried through to the very end. I timed the duration at 1:34, making it medium-long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Sipping Frey Ranch 5-Grain Bourbon was like eating an oatmeal cookie and a gingerbread cookie at the same time. It had all the buttery, sweet softness balanced with a spicy snap from the ginger.

 

Frey Ranch has a knack for producing whiskeys that drink well below the stated proof. The Single Barrel 5-Grain Bourbon fits that mold. How they manage that consistency is anyone’s guess. I found myself taking additional sips almost mindlessly, which is a testament to how easy it was to drink.

 

Because it is a single-barrel Bourbon, this is a one-and-done thing; once it is gone, it is gone forever. If you can get your hands on it, I’d grab a Bottle. 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.