Sooner or later or one other, each dialog about Frey Ranch inevitably turns to grains. That’s as a result of the Fallon, Nevada-based operation, which has been distilling because the early 2000s, has turn out to be one of many nation’s most distinguished figures within the farm-distillery scene. Today, many producers boast a “grain to glass” strategy to creating whiskey, however few stroll the stroll just like the Freys, whose household has been cultivating grains within the excessive desert nation of Northwest Nevada since 1854. That custom continues to be alive and nicely as we speak, with Frey Ranch’s whiskeys made completely from corn, rye, wheat, oats, and barley which are grown by proprietor and fifth-generation farmer Colby Frey on his 1,500-acre household farm.
Of all of the grains utilized by Frey Ranch, oat is the rarest one by far. In spite of everything, it’s the one kind that’s absent from the distillery’s flagship four-grain bourbon recipe. However lately, we’ve seen the distillery start to incorporate oats in additional of its work. In 2021 the distillery launched a 100% oat whiskey as a part of its ongoing Single Grain collection. Earlier this 12 months got here the inaugural Harvester Collection launch, a mix of 14 totally different mashbills, a few of which contained oats. This newest launch is equally influenced by oats, sporting a uncommon five-grain mashbill that showcases the entire farm’s grains in a single recipe.
Going All-In on Grains
The brand new launch accounts for a pair of single barrel bourbons—Barrel 3016 and Barrel 3011— each of which comply with an identical recipe to the model’s flagship expression. They’ve a mashbill of 60% corn (in comparison with the 66% share discovered within the model’s signature four-grain mashbill) with the remaining 40% cut up evenly by rye, wheat, malted barley, and oats. Each barrels have been aged for greater than 6 years and a couple of months, although Barrel 3016 is a day older than its counterpart.
In response to the model, the important thing variations between the 2 are their taste profiles and proof factors. Barrel 3016, which was bottled at 65.12% ABV is alleged to skew on the grainier facet, with caramel apples, Enjoyable Dip sweet, oats, milk chocolate, and frosted oatmeal cookies. Coming in barely larger at 66.61%, Barrel 3011 is alleged to be a bit sweeter, bringing rose petals, jelly doughnuts, fruitcake, and darkish and malted candies.
Barrel 3016 was positioned as an internet unique, however sadly for followers, it has already offered out. Frey Ranch confirmed that round 75 bottles of Barrel 3011 are nonetheless out there for buy completely on the Frey Ranch tasting room, with a advised retail worth of $89. When you aren’t in a position to make it out to Fallon in time to choose up a bottle, concern not: Others are coming quickly. The distillery is planning to launch a 3rd batch of this bourbon, Barrel 3014, this fall. Not like its compatriots, that one will see a retail launch at choose shops in northern Nevada. Subsequent 12 months, Frey Ranch expects to launch extra single barrel bourbons which use this identical five-grain mashbill.
Why Do not We See Oats in Extra Mashbills?
Distillers who work with oats know what a headache this grain could be, which is essentially why oat-influenced whiskeys are such a rarity. “Oats are 60% hulls by quantity and low on starch, which is problematic for a whiskey maker,” says Frey, explaining that the hulls can result in blockages in stills whereas the low starch can result in decrease yields. Oats are additionally troublesome to ferment, usually foaming up and requiring decrease temperatures than different grains. Although troublesome, oats can lend very fascinating flavors to whiskey—usually including weight and viscosity to the mouthfeel whereas contributing candy and grainy flavors of dates, oatmeal cookies, and cream.
Whiskeys made with oats could also be a rarity, however five-grain bourbons are rarer nonetheless. They’re usually the province of craft distillers, whose small scale permits them to experiment extra simply. These curious expressions usually take the 4 grains we’re used to seeing in bourbon—corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley—plus an additional flavoring grain. Oats are the widespread selection right here, with Frey Ranch, Whiskey Acres, and Midstate Distillery all together with it. In South Carolina, Twenty & Six Distillery as an alternative makes use of golden rice in its five-grain recipe. Impartial bottler Misplaced Lantern as soon as bottled a five-grain bourbon from Ohio’s Watershed Distillery that was made utilizing an historic cousin of wheat referred to as spelt. A number of years again, bigger participant Buffalo Hint took issues to the following stage with an excellent rarer six-grain mashbill—that includes corn, brown rice, buckwheat, sorghum, wheat, and rice—as a part of its Experimental Assortment collection.
Frey Ranch 5 Grain Bourbon (Barrel 3011)
ABV: 66.61%
SRP: $89
Availability: Tasting room unique
