Frey Ranch Farmers & Distillers, a family-owned distillery in Fallon, Nevada, has released its Third Harvest whiskey, a limited-edition spirit bottled at 123.4 proof (61.7% ABV). The whiskey, aged for five to eight years in oak barrels, is made from 100% estate-grown grains, a practice the distillery owners highlight as rare in the whiskey industry.
Colby and Ashley Frey, co-founders of the distillery, explained that their family has been farming in Nevada since 1854. The grains used for the Third Harvest whiskey include corn, rye, malted barley, wheat, and triticale. Ashley Frey stated that the distillery proofs its whiskey based on flavor profiles, aiming for the "best expression of our grain as a whiskey." She described this particular batch as being for consumers with a "refined palate that's able to pull out all these flavor profiles."
Spirits expert Derek Brown of Drink Company acknowledged that while 123.4 proof is on the higher end, it's not uncommon for barrel-strength whiskies. He noted that higher proof can lead to more complex flavors derived from barrel aging, but warned that an overpowering alcohol taste can overshadow these nuances. "It can definitely produce a burning sensation and be too much if the other flavors, especially those from wood maturation, are not also present," Brown said.
Brown suggested that the Third Harvest whiskey is "definitely for the initiated." However, he also noted that consumers can mitigate the intensity by adding water or ice. For those sensitive to strong flavors, he recommended opting for a different beverage. The distillery is producing only about 700 bottles of this limited edition, priced at $299 each.
Brown advised that high-proof spirits should be consumed mindfully, ideally with food. Ashley Frey emphasized that the whiskey represents "hard work and heritage and love for the land and agriculture."