Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon

Spicy but smooth and balanced.

Nose: Vanilla and citrus. Dry, charred oak character is present, as well. Getting a good smack of nutmeg and clove - going to guess that's the rye in the mash bill. Black pepper, too. Underripe banana. Subtly floral. Dark brown sugar, with some earthy molasses notes. Not a complex nose, but what's on display here is well executed. Palate: White sugar, vanilla, and oak. Black tea, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, black pepper. Ripe fruits, with apricot and banana at the front, though there's a solid cherry presence. Being a 4-grain, there's a very good mix of the traditional punch of rye spice with the "softer" character of wheat. The citrus is dialed back and presents more as almost like a candied bitter lemon. Ginger shows up, too. This drinks like a higher proof than what's in the bottle, but in a mostly good way. This is relatively bright and shiny, without much bottom end to hold things up - unique balance but effective. I'd be really interested in a cask strength version of this. Mouthfeel is medium-light. Finish: Begins with nilla wafers, bananas, clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Black tea and black pepper show back up as things progress. A slightly bready, sour, bitter character comes in, with the tannin revealing itself. Medium length, with an effervescent quality that hangs around for a while. Other notes: 4 grain bourbons can be a hit or miss experience for me. They either lean so heavily on the rye or wheat that you question why they went 4 grain in the first place, or the resulting profile comes across as bland and uninteresting. This strikes an excellent balance, allowing the separate grains to shine through and contribute meaningfully. That being said, this isn't a "centerpiece" whiskey. Though interesting and complex enough to focus on and appreciate, it doesn't necessarily grab your attention. Great example of something that straddles the line between being a background whisky or the center of attention. Solid rebuy chance, though not something I'd feed compelled to always have on hand.