Style: Straight bourbon whiskey
Age: No age statement
Proof: 124.3 (62.15% ABV)
Region: Fallon, Nevada
When Colby Frey introduces himself, he tells people he’s a “whiskey farmer”— and that’s pretty much spot on. All of the whiskey that Frey Ranch makes is distilled from the corn, wheat, barley and rye that Colby grows and harvests on his family farm. It’s a legitimate farm-to-bottle operation. The highest caliber bourbon whiskey in their portfolio is the uncut, non-chill filtered, “Farm Strength”, which has a quad-grain mash bill of 66.6% Dent corn, 10% winter wheat, 11.4% winter rye and 12% two-row barley. Let’s find out how this 124-proof bourbon stacks up.
Tasting notes
This pour starts off with a dessert-like bouquet, with notes of caramelized sugar, sweet berries, with a bit of nutmeg. On the palate, the fruity notes take center stage with a candied cherry sweetness on the forefront. That sweetness is bolstered by notes of dried apricot, buttery shortbread, and a hint of smoke from the barrel char. As the whiskey finishes, the cherry notes sharpen a bit, leaving a lingering tartness similar to raspberry along with a bit of butterscotch and cinnamon.
Final thoughts
Frey Ranch’s Farm Strength Uncut bourbon is an excellent after-dinner treat. It’s sweet, but not cloying, it balances flavors reminiscent of crème brulee, short cake, and candied fruit with a full-proof punch. The first sip might hit you hard, but it settles into a pleasant, balanced and complex pour that’s sure to please any lover of high-proof bourbon.
