Sips & Sites & Bites

Fall is harvest season in Northern Nevada, and at Frey Ranch Distillery, that means more than just gathering grain. It means celebrating the farm-to-glass whiskey tradition that has made Frey Ranch one of the most talked-about names in American whiskey.

This year, that celebration brings something truly special: the release of Frey Ranch Harvester Series: Second Harvest, the second ultra-premium expression in the distillery’s collector-worthy Harvester Series.

Following on the heels of last year’s rye-forward “First Harvest,” the new “Second Harvest” takes a softer, sweeter turn with a wheat-dominant blend crafted by Colby and Ashley Frey alongside Master Distiller Russell Wedlake and famed Master Blender Nancy Fraley. At 122.44 proof, the whiskey highlights the farm’s slow-grown, sustainable grains … most notably the soft white winter wheat that Colby’s family has cultivated for generations.

Fraley describes the project as “a chance to experiment with wholly unique blends where the sky is the limit.” Compared to the peppery spice of First Harvest, this new release leans into velvety textures and dessert-like flavors. Think aromas of hot chocolate with crème de menthe, banana pudding, and caramel biscotti, followed by a palate that drifts through honey, crème brûlée, baklava, orange marmalade, and toasted marshmallow. The finish? Soft and creamy, with lingering notes of custard and citrus.

Beyond the whiskey itself, Frey Ranch designed the packaging as a nod to its agricultural roots. Each bottle comes topped with a recycled-metal tractor stopper and is tucked inside silo-inspired packaging stamped with the family motto: “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you.”

With only 600 numbered bottles available, this is as rare as it is remarkable. The distillery launched an online lottery late last week through EQL to help distribute the limited supply, while a portion was reserved for visitors to the Fallon, Nevada tasting room and a handful of select retailers in Nevada and California.

At $249.99 SRP, Second Harvest is priced and positioned for collectors, but also promises to reward anyone lucky enough to pour it neat on a crisp October evening. Judging by how fast First Harvest vanished, this one won’t be around long.