Tasting Notes – Frey Ranch Farmers & Distillers Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This post sponsored by the Glencairn Whisky Glass

This Frey Ranch Bourbon first came on my radar when a distiller friend of mine mentioned that he had been out west and picked up a case of this Bourbon because he thought it was very good whiskey. It is not available in the Kentucky liquor stores, but I saw a chance to pick up a bottle on line and did so. I am glad she did.

I don’t know that much about their distillery, its capacity, mash bill or aging facilities. Their web site does not help by providing information either. What the label states is the Frey family have owned the ranch since 1854 and they are growing their own grains for their distillery. The Bourbon is a four grain Bourbon that is bottled without chill filtration. This bottle is from batch 1 and was distilled, matured and bottled on Frey Ranch. There is no age statement so the whiskey must be at least four years old. What the label does not say, but I will, is that it is a damn fine Bourbon. If you can find it, buy a bottle. You will be glad you did.

Frey Ranch Farmers & Distillers Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 90

Age: No Age Statement

Nose: Sweet corn, rich vanilla, a little tobacco or leather earthiness, apricot or peach fruit, some ginger spice and oak.

Taste: Corn, vanilla, ginger spice, apricots, oak and a little fine leather. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the spice is toned down in the taste and the vanilla is even richer and creamier. Tasted with a pecan and it becomes a bit drier in flavor with some citrus fruit, lots of oak and ginger and only a hint of sweet vanilla.

Finish: Very spicy with ginger and a little white pepper and oak. The dried cranberry tones down the ginger spice some and adds a note of sweet vanilla to the oak wood. The pecan makes the finish dry with lots of oak and the ginger spice fades quickly leaving only the oak wood.

I would pair this whiskey with a Fuente Opus X cigar. I think the smoke of the Opus X is a bit earthy yet has vanilla notes that would pair well with this Bourbon.