A representation of Nevada’s high desert terroir, the 94-proof four-year-old whiskey is made with grains harvested from local fields, cultivated and overseen by Minden Mill, and distilled at the estate distillery. Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan produces the expression using a mash bill of 80% rye, 10% soft white wheat and 10% estate-malted barley. It reflects the high-desert environment—where dramatic temperature swings and a tight 90-day rye growing season. The distillate is cut with water sourced from the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye is aged in a combination of Seguin Moreau New American and French oak barrels with a #3 char in traditional wooden rickhouses calibrated to mimic the temperature and humidity of Kentucky’s Nelson County.

“Very few producers own the full process from grain to glass, and that’s where Minden Mill Rye starts to stand apart. We don’t just distill the whiskey – we grow it,” says Minden Mill Master Distiller O’Sullivan. “Unlike most rye whiskeys, you won’t find any spice bombs here. It’s far more savory and balanced than most people expect. This mash bill was designed to highlight the candied orange peel character that is our house style.”

Recently named Nevada Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition,  Minden Mill is among a few U.S. distilleries committed to full grain traceability and oversight at every stage of production that happens on its 1,200-acre estate. The Minden Mill portfolio also includes an American Single Malt Whiskey and a Nevada Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey is available for $45.

The post Minden Mill Rolls Out Rye Nationally appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

As a member of the Estate Whiskey Alliance and a holder of a Nevada estate distillery license, Minden Mill produces “ground-to-glass” whiskeys. Minden Mill American Single Malt is made from 100% estate-grown barley, malted on site. The grain is mashed with M1 yeast, and the water is sourced from onsite well, which is fed by snowpack from the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. That water is filtered for years through granite, making it some of the purest water in the world.

Minden Mill American Single Malt is distilled in dual, all-copper Forsyth stills hammered by hand in Speyside, Scotland – two of only a few in the U.S. The fourth-generation family-owned coppersmiths are known for their high quality and respect for the tradition and heritage of fine single malt Scotch production. Rather than using the steam commonly used to heat stills in most American whiskey production, the distillery’s cutting-edge heating systems use a thermal oil-heated calandria at the bottom of the stripping and spirit stills to reach higher temperatures than steam.

The distillery also implements a unique barrel aging process for the Nevada high desert climate. The whiskey is aged for five years in a barrel regime of Oloroso sherry, ex-bourbon and American oak casks, along with re-charred wine and sherry butts in climate-controlled rickhouses. The rickhouses are calibrated to mimic the temperature and humidity of Speyside, a nod to traditional single malt Scotch whisky aging methods. The exceptionally low humidity of the Nevada region, this temperature control ensures the proper expansion and contraction into the wood, along with well-defined evaporation levels to condense the rich flavors of the whiskey.

“Minden Mill has the unique opportunity to help introduce the U.S. consumer to the American Single Malt Whiskey category,” said Minden Mill Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan. “This is a true representation of a single estate whiskey, highlighting the unique terroir of Nevada’s high desert and the extreme Sierra Nevada temperaments – from very short growing seasons to the scorching summer days and brutally cold nights. The subtle exploration of flavor based on regional differences is what made Scotch Whisky so compelling to consumers, and we can replicate that experience in Minden with American Single Malt.”

Prior to joining Minden Mill, O’Sullivan was an apprentice to Steven McCarthy, the “godfather” of American Single Malt, during the category’s foundational period. A member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, O’Sullivan was an integral part of the efforts which led to the 2025 TTB ruling which established standards for American Single Malt Whiskey.

The post Minden Mill Makes An American Single Malt appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Frey Ranch Distillery recently announced the release of its inaugural Straight Rye Whiskey. Frey Ranch Rye is “bottled-in-bond,” which requires that a spirit is produced by a single distiller within one season, aged for a minimum of four years in a bonded warehouse, and bottled at precisely 100-proof.

Batches one and two will be released in extremely limited quantities, with 3,000 and 2,400 bottles available from each batch respectively. The release of Frey Ranch Straight Rye follows the distillery’s debut of its Straight Bourbon Whiskey last December.

Located in Lake Tahoe, Frey Ranch Distillery grows, malts, and distills 100% of its whiskey grains on-site for consistent quality. Frey Ranch Straight Rye has a mash bill of 100% winter cereal rye.

“As our rye was aging, we knew we had something special on our hands based on the reactions of those who sampled it,” says Frey Ranch Distillery Co-Founder Colby Frey. “Nearly everyone commented on its smoothness and how easy it is to sip, which is rare for a 100% rye mash bill. We’re very proud of how our first-ever Straight Rye Whiskey turned out and can’t wait to share it with consumers.”

Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey retails for $59.99, but is only available now throughout Nevada.

The post Frey Ranch Distillery Releases Inaugural Straight Rye appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

This past December, Frey Ranch released its first Straight Bourbon Whiskey in its home state. This 90-proof bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years and has a mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row malted barley, 100% of which is grown onsite at.

Frey grew up working his family’s land alongside his father, who taught him from an early age the ins and outs of farming. As such, he lives by the motto “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” which is engraved on the bottom of each bottle of their whiskey. Frey and Master Distiller and Certified Crop Advisor Russell Wedlake work together to oversee each stage of the production process. From farming and harvesting the grains through distillation and maturation.

In response to the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting nationwide hand sanitizer shortage, Frey Ranch, like many other distilleries, has commenced production of hand sanitizer at its facility. The first batch will be distributed to local businesses and organizations including Banner Churchill Community Hospital, Hawthorne Army Depot, the Churchill County Volunteer Fire Department, and the Nevada Trucking Association, which delivers to grocery stores throughout the state. 100% of hand sanitizer produced will be donated, with the exception of organizations that are unable to accept donations (such as the United States Postal Service).

“It’s in our nature as farmers to help out our neighbors and the greater community during times of hardship,” says Frey Ranch Distillery CEO and Co-founder, Colby Frey. “When we realized there was an opportunity to assist by making hand sanitizer, it was a no-brainer for us. We plan to continue production over the next few weeks and will reassess the need within our community as the situation continues to evolve.”

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available in Nevada for $49.99.

The post Frey Ranch Bourbon Does Grain To Glass Right appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.