Colby and Ashley Frey, the power couple behind the Frey Ranch Distillery brand, are no strangers to farming. Colby’s family has been tilling land in Northern Nevada since 1854 (before Nevada was even a state) and Frey Ranch started whiskey production in 2014, which means the brand is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and especially this fall during harvest season (late September to early October). In 2024, Frey Ranch will finish about 300,000 bottles and place 1.3 million bottles into barrels to start the aging process.
With 2,500 acres to farm everything that goes into the glass including corn, wheat, rye, barley, and oats, Frey Ranch serves what Colby refers to as “ground to glass” whiskey.
When it comes to cocktails, the couple are sipping whiskey-based drinks like The Ranch Hand, Ashley’s personal favorite, a refreshing sipper that’s less whiskey forward but with plenty of acid. On the other hand, Colby takes his whiskey neat. Read on for some of their favorite recipes.
Warden 1854
This is Frey Ranch Distillery’s version of the classic Ward 8 Cocktail.
Ingredients
2 oz. Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. Liquid Alchemist Strawberry Syrup
1 dash of aromatic bitters
Directions
First, combine Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, strawberry syrup, and aromatic bitters into your favorite shaker. Once shaken, strain into a chilled coupe glass, garnish with a fresh grapefruit peel, and enjoy!
Sun Dog
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon
1 oz. lemon juice
0.5 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
0.75 oz. basil syrup
0.75 oz. mint syrup
1 oz. sparkling water
Fresh basil sprig and mint crown garnish
Directions
Add Frey Ranch Bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, and mint syrup to a Collins glass. Fill ice to top of the glass and top with sparkling water. Use fresh basil sprig and mint crown for garnish.
Ranch Hand
Frey Ranch Distillery’s version of a Gold Rush.
Ingredients
2 oz. of Frey Ranch Bourbon
0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.75 oz. honey syrup (1:1 honey to warm water)
1 dash of aromatic bitters
Freshly sliced lemon twist for garnish
Directions
Build all ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with fresh lemon peel.
Old Fashioned
Ingredients
2 oz. of Frey Ranch Bourbon
0.3 oz. honey syrup (1:1 honey to warm water)
2 dashes of aromatic bitters
Directions
Combine honey syrup and bitters in a rocks glass. Add large ice cube or sphere, top with whiskey and stir well. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and orange slice.