Colby Frey grew up on the 1,200-acre ranch his household owned in Fallon, Nevada’s Churchill County, a fantastic panorama in its golden vastness. In 2001, his dad started planting wine grapes, and the Gewurztraminers, Semillons, and Rieslings the property produced had been extremely regarded. However when Colby and his spouse Ashley turned the brand new era to work the land, that they had a novel thought: to farm wheat, corn, barley, rye, alfalfa, and oats, as a substitute. The fields of this land had been no stranger to those sorts of grains however the corn and different crops earlier generations farmed had been principally used for simple agricultural functions and offered off to different corporations. Colby and Ashley, nevertheless, had a much bigger imaginative and prescient: to develop their very own grains for making the perfect spirits attainable. They first experimented with vodka and gin, then settled on bourbon whiskey as their ardour undertaking.
Whereas artisanal whiskey continues to be all the fad amongst spirits drinkers, bourbon is essentially dominated by producers in Kentucky and different states the place grain sourcing isn’t at all times clear and there are as many myths and legends as there are discernible information. However these tales do have the burden of historical past behind them, so it was clear from the outset that they Freys had been carving a brand new path, one which got here with no assure of acceptance. And so they didn’t wish to create simply any bourbon; they needed to go for a world-class product when it comes to the standard and sensory expertise. It didn’t take lengthy for the concept to catch on, and now the couple discover themselves with a 4,600 square-foot state-of-the artwork distillery, together with a stillroom, tank room, barrel room, tasting room, barrel home, and malt home.
I tasted two merchandise after I visited the “whiskey farm:” the flagship straight bourbon whiskey, created from 4 estate-grown grains (corn, wheat, rye, and barley) — balanced and deep-toned with delicate undercurrents of oak and baking spices — and the straight rye whiskey (created from 100% estate-grown rye) — spicier, with hints of pink peppercorn and ginger root.
The bourbon is aged within the barrel room for 5 years, solely launched when it has attain a stage of improvement that satisfies its makers. Whereas Kentucky bourbon producers speak quite a bit about their water high quality, Frey Ranch has stable footing there, as nicely. Their water sources are the Carson and Truckee rivers, and the method right here includes flood-irrigating the fields (reasonably than pumping water in), which truly produces, reasonably than consumes, electrical energy. This is only one of many controls the Freys can train over every step alongside the best way.
Whereas these whiskeys are pleasant for sipping neat, right here’s a cocktail recipe the Freys shared with me that I loved all through the summer season months. Referred to as the “Ranch Hand,” it’s a twist on a Gold Rush:
Components:
- 1 1/2 oz. Frey Ranch Bourbon
- 3/4 oz. recent lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. honey syrup (2:1)
- Sprint fragrant bitters
Methodology:
- Construct all substances and shake with ice.
- Pressure into a calming rocks glass garnished with recent lemon peel.
- Serve and luxuriate in.