Distillery: Frey Ranch Distillery—Fallon, NV
Proof: 125.3 (62.7% ABV)
Age: Six Years
Mashbill: 67% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 11% Rye, 10% Wheat
MSRP: $100
An Estate-Grown Bourbon That Shows You What You’ve Been Missing
Lost Lantern’s Summer 2025 release brought forward a handful of exceptional estate-grown single barrels, and this one from Frey Ranch Distillery makes a strong case for desert-aged bourbon that’s from the ground up. Literally.
Frey Ranch, located in northern Nevada, doesn’t just distill—they grow. Every kernel of corn, every grain of barley, wheat, and rye used in this bottle came from their farm. That’s not common, even among “craft” distilleries. This single barrel was made from a four-grain mashbill—67% corn, 12% malted barley, 11% rye, and 10% wheat—then aged for six years and bottled at full barrel strength: 125.3 proof, unfiltered and untouched.
Only 200 bottles were released and only available at Lost Lantern’s tasting room in Vermont as well as select retailers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Lost Lantern Estate-Grown Single Cask Series Frey Ranch Nevada Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.4/5
Red berries. Cocoa. Cinnamon. Dried grain.
Strengths: Quickly draws you in and heightens expectations with its sweet-savory balance. Layered.
Why it’s not higher: Fruit notes show up early and are steady, not evolving much as it opens up.
Rating justification: It’s a compelling Nose that creates a strong first impression and makes you feel like there is a real difference in the story of this bourbon.
Palate – 4.7/5
Bing cherry. Baking spice. Warm cereal grain.
Strengths: Great mouthfeel. The spice is assertive but not overbearing. The Palate is where the whiskey really shines.
Why it’s not higher: It’s hard to find fault with the Palate. That said, a splash of water to dampen the proof brought forth more of the sweetness and enhanced the Palate even further.
Rating justification: A full-flavored Palate that makes you realize what you are missing in other bourbon expressions.
Finish – 4.4/5
Char. Cinnamon. Burnt caramel. Dry grains. Drying.
Strengths: Clean and warming. The flavor hangs on without any bitterness.
Why it’s not higher: Medium length. Slightly dry at the very end—missing that last touch of sweetness.
Rating justification: A satisfying close that, along with the Nose, bookends the Palate rather than trying to upstage it.
Value – 4.5/5
$100. Six Years. Cask Strength. Estate-Grown. Single Barrel.
This isn’t a bargain buy—but it’s not trying to be. It’s priced for people who care about grain, process, and transparency. When a bottle tells you exactly what’s inside and how it was made, that honesty is worth something.
Strengths: Strong proof. Rare estate-grown pedigree. Isn’t trying to be a bargain buy.
Why it’s not higher: The flavor profile, while outstanding, might not resonate with enthusiasts looking for sweeter bourbon notes. However, if that’s what you’re looking for then a splash of water will give you exactly that.
Rating justification: The price makes sense for what you get—it’s a bottle for the grain-forward drinker. Not the trend chaser.
It’s a high quality bourbon that sets a high bar for other bourbons in this price point. For our friends in Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island—don’t pass on this one!
Lost Lantern Estate-Grown Single Cask Series Frey Ranch Nevada Bourbon Review: The Verdict
This single barrel from Frey Ranch doesn’t need to dress up its label with gimmicks or buzzwords. Instead, it the grain—and the land it came from—takes the lead.
Even with the high Palate score, it may not appeal to every Palate. But if you’re an enthusiast who’s interested in what happens when a distiller works with their own grain, on their own land, and gives the whiskey time to mature without shortcuts—this is a bottle you’ll want to explore. It’s a high quality bourbon that sets a high bar for other bourbons in this price point. Shop here.
Verdict – 4.5/5
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.
