Review: Frey Ranch Harvester Series Second Harvest American Whiskey

One of just a handful of true grain-to-glass American distilleries, Nevada’s Frey Ranch is owned and operated by fifth generation family farmers. The distillery grows, harvests, and malts all grain used in its whiskeys. They also mash, ferment, distill, age, and bottle entirely on site. Best known for rye and four (and even five) grain bourbon, Frey Ranch also has a robust single barrel program; indeed, it’s one of the few distilleries churning out wheat whiskey at a reliable clip.

Today, we’re looking at the distillery’s latest premium offering, the second in their Harvester Series blends. As with the first release, this one is blended as a collaboration between Colby & Ashley Frey and legendary blender Nancy Fraley.

The first Harvester Series was a rye-focused blend. “Second Harvest” goes big on wheat. Under Fraley’s guidance, the final blend breaks down as such:

52.5% is 100% Wheat Whiskey
14.25% is Four Grain Bourbon
9.5% is 100% Unmalted Barley Whiskey
9.5% is 100% Malted Barley Whiskey
9.5% is 100% Barley Whiskey (half malted & half unmalted)
4.25% is a Quad Malt whiskey containing corn, barley, rye, and wheat

The final blend is bottled at a batch strength 122.44 proof and categorized as an American whiskey. Just 600 bottles total were produced, which sold out nearly immediately in limited distribution both online and at the distillery’s Fallon, Nevada gift shop.

Let’s see how it tastes!

Frey Ranch Harvester Series Second Harvest American Whiskey Review

If you’ve sampled Frey Ranch’s wheat whiskeys before, there are some immediately familiar elements on the nose: whipped vanilla frosting, spearmint gum, dried alfalfa hay, lemongrass, and (a bit unique to this blend) a whopping dose of freshly cracked black pepper. Mint intertwines with oak after a few minutes in the glass, along with some cocoa — think melted Andes chocolate mints — and a little Luxardo cherry. Clove oil develops even as that mint becomes more robust. As craft American whiskey goes, this one brings rare depth on the nose — I was still picking out new scents after 10 minutes.

A first sip is remarkably approachable for its 122.44 proof, and an initial softness has replaced some of Frey Ranch’s hallmark bold and punch sweetness. Lemon oil, yellow cake, rose syrup, and mint — lighter here compared to the nose — lead, mildly confectionary and merging together like a slice of basbousa (a Middle Eastern semolina cake soaked in syrup). While those first few tastes are refreshing, oak tannins build, and the midpalate eventually leans toward roasted nuts; noticeably, it never quite loses the lemon and rose-infused edge. The finish turns back to cream cheese frosting, with a final pop of peppermint oil that lingers and cools the tongue.

It’s tasty, rich stuff indeed, building upon the first Harvester Series release while gaining rich, dessert-like character from the heavy wheat components.

122.44 proof.

A- / $250

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