This week, Big Chief heads out West to Fallon, Nevada and sits down with the heart and soul behind Frey Ranch Distillery, founders, farmers, and distillers, and husband and wife team, Colby Frey and Ashley Frey. This isn't just whiskey, this is dirt to glass, grown under big sky country and built with grit. The ride kicks off with a pour of Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a true four grain expression that tells the story of their land. With a mash bill of 66.6% corn, 11.4% winter rye, 10% soft white wheat, and 12% two row barley malted right there on site, this one carries the Frey fingerprint from seed to sip. At 90 proof, it drinks with a little more fire than expected, maybe that double distillation, maybe that dry Nevada air, but it settles in with notes of citrus, banana chips, caramel, white pepper, and toffee dancing across the palate. Then the second half, and folks, this is where it gets serious. The Freys introduce their upcoming April release, the inaugural Farm Strength 100% winter rye, aged 6 years and clocking in at a bold 124.52 proof. This one hits Big Chief right in the wheelhouse. We're talking horehound candy sweetness, black licorice spice, and baked apple pie dripping in caramel. It's layered, it's unapologetic, and it's already stepping into the ring as a contender for Big Chief's Whiskey of the Year. But this episode goes beyond the glass. It's about the grind, the land, the mindset. Colby talks about dreaming up new ideas while riding a tractor through Nevada soil, proving innovation doesn't always come from a boardroom, sometimes it comes from the field. Ashley brings the balance, the business, and the backbone that keeps this operation pushing forward. This is American farming meeting American whiskey at the highest level. No shortcuts, no sourcing, just hard work, family roots, and a commitment to doing it right. Saddle up and pour a glass, this is one hell of a ride. Take the Ride with Big Chief, Cheers
