In the world of craft whiskey, age is not the sole determinant of quality. However, when a relatively young distillery releases a 10-year-old expression, it marks a notable achievement. Frey Ranch, renowned for its commitment to quality, has just reached this milestone with the upcoming launch of its first batch of 10-year-old bourbon.
Nestled near the foothills of the Sierras in Nevada, Frey Ranch is a grain-to-glass distillery founded by Colby and Ashley Frey in 2006. The distillery is dedicated to producing whiskey using grains cultivated on their family farm. In a strategic move, Frey Ranch joined the Estate Whiskey Alliance in 2026, an organization established by the University of Kentucky. Members of this alliance adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring that all production steps occur at the distillery and that at least two-thirds of the mashbill grains are grown on land owned or controlled by the distillery.
The Craftsmanship Behind Frey Ranch’s 10-Year-Old Bourbon
This new bourbon embodies the distillery’s commitment to excellence. It is crafted using the same mashbill as Frey Ranch’s core Four Grain Bourbon, comprising 66.6% non-GMO corn11.4% Canadian winter rye10% soft winter wheatand 12% malted two-row barley. The batches were distilled between January 2015 and April 2016, aged for a full decade in char #4 barrels with char #3 heads, and bottled at 102 proof without chill filtration.
Colby Frey, co-founder of Frey Ranch, expressed the significance of this achievement: “Craft distilleries producing their own genuine 10-year-old whiskeys are still a rarity in this industry, making this milestone a meaningful achievement for our entire team.” He further emphasized the distillery’s commitment to quality, stating, “But age statements aside, every bottle of Frey Ranch Whiskey begins where it always has—with the high-quality grains we grow and harvest ourselves on the farm. When our fans invest in a bottle of Frey Ranch Whiskey, they’re investing in farmers.”
Tasting Notes and Availability
While we haven’t had the opportunity to sample this bourbon, the official tasting notes promise a rich sensory experience. The nose is said to offer hints of caramelized sugarmilk chocolateand chocolate orange candy. The palate is expected to deliver notes of milk chocolatecerealbaking spiceshoneyand biscotticulminating in an oaky finish.
For those eager to try this limited release, Frey Ranch is offering a lottery on their website from June 15 to June 22. A total of 500 bottles will be available for $100 each. Additionally, more bottles will be available at the distillery’s tasting room starting this June 13.
