Distillery: Frey Ranch Distillery – Fallon. Nevada
Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)
Age: Five Years
Mashbill: 100% Winter Rye
MSRP: $63
A Lean and Dry Rye Profile.
Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey continues in the line of expressions that highlights the distillery’s commitment to estate-grown grain. Crafted from 100% Winter Cereal Rye grown on the historic family farm, this rye is aged a minimum of five years and bottled at 100 proof.
The Frey family established the farm in 1854, a decade before Nevada became a state, and the property holds the distinction of being Nevada’s first deeded farmland. Today, 650 acres of the ranch form the “whiskey farm,” where all grains used in Frey Ranch spirits are grown with intentionality to be turned into whiskey. The distillery malts its own barley, distills on-site, and bottles every expression—including this rye—under the motto: “Be Good to the Land and the Land Will Be Good to You.”
This Bottled-in-Bond rye has earned a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 3.8/5
Rye grain. Fresh mint. Herbal intensity. Light wintergreen.
Strengths: Immediately rye forward. Boldly grain-driven with a strong herbal presence. The mint shows up more as a mint thaw or cooling sensation than a sweet mint. Grassy sharpness.
Why it’s not higher: Very little sweetness to broaden the range of the Nose.
Rating justification: An unapologetically grain-forward Nose is clearly defined by the 100% winter rye mash bill.
Palate – 3.7/5
Green mint. Herbal rye. Dry grain. Light citrus pith.
Strengths: The Palate follows the Nose closely with a strong herbal character. The green mint note is pronounced and persistent. The herbal freshness is crisp and clean.
Why it’s not higher: The dry grain dominates. Complexity is limited, and the sweetness or depth expected from a 5-year rye is muted.
Rating justification: Distinctive and very rye-centric.
Finish – 3.2/5
Dry grain. Faint mint. Light tang.
Strengths: A flash of mint appears before quickly fading, leaving a crisp exit.
Why it’s not higher: The Finish is extremely short and nearly disappears on contact. The slight tang and a sour aftertaste feel disconnected from the Palate.
Rating justification: Direct and fast. Lacks staying power and lingering flavor.
Value – 3.6/5
At $63, this rye offers good value for a fully estate-grown, bottled-in-bond release. The craftsmanship and estate transparency are strong selling points. However, the flavor profile leans considerably toward dry grain, herbal sharpness and less complexity than some competitors around this price point.
Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Review: The Verdict
Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey shows the clarity and purity of the distillery’s estate-grown winter rye. The Nose and Palate are boldly herbal and strongly mint-driven, while the Finish is very short, with a slight sour notes on the back end. For enthusiasts who enjoy a dry, grain-forward rye with herbal character, this expression delivers exactly that. Those looking for more sweetness, oak influence, or depth will find this rye too direct.
Verdict – 3.6/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
