Meet the Co-Founders
The Frey family has a long legacy of farming in Northern Nevada that dates back to 1854 and continues today on the Frey Ranch Farm + Distillery with us, husband and wife duo, Ashley & Colby Frey. We knew that the grains we were growing on Frey Ranch were extremely high-quality, but we never got to see the final product once the grains were trucked off to be shipped overseas. This divide created a desire in us to make a distinctive, long-lasting product from the quality grains our family has been growing and perfecting for generations. In 2006, Frey Ranch Distillery was born, with a passion to showcase the quality grains that goes into our whiskey. Everything is grown, mashed, malted, distilled, matured, and bottled right here on Frey Ranch.
“If you’re not making dust, you’re eating dust.”
Colby grew up on the 1,500-acre Frey Ranch, and some of his fondest memories are of working alongside his father on the farm. Colby’s father taught him the ins and outs of farming that had been passed down from previous generations, but most importantly, he instilled in Colby that a farmer’s obligation is first and foremost as a steward of the land. This is a lesson Colby carries to this day, abiding by the motto “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” which is engraved on each bottle of Frey Ranch whiskey.
By the mid-2000s, Colby decided to merge his love of farming with yet another passion: whiskey. By producing spirits from rotation crops like wheat, rye, barley, and corn, Colby realized he could create something long-lasting and financially viable from perishable grains that would otherwise have a limited shelf-life. Today, Colby oversees each stage of the farming and production process at Frey Ranch Distillery, From Ground to Glass®. His proudest career milestone to date is the release of Frey Ranch’s flagship four-grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a culmination of many years of hard work and according to Colby, a true representation of our family and connection to the land.
“We live where we work and we work where we live, our brand is an extension of our family”
While Ashley Frey may not have grown up on a farm, today it’s where she feels most at home. Hailing from a small town in Nevada, Ashley comes from a close-knit family who taught her from an early age that there are multiple routes to success. It was this foundation that inspired Ashley, alongside her husband Colby, to forge a career in the world of whiskey and in 2006 establish Frey Ranch Distillery in Fallon, Nevada.
In addition to having a hand in day-to-day business operations, Ashley is closely involved in the branding process and oversaw the redesign of Frey Ranch’s packaging in 2019, from the artful bottle design and distinct metal toppers down to the custom label color. Ashley also established and still oversees the visitor experience at Frey Ranch, hosting visitors every week. What she loves most about her job is that no two days are alike. On any given day she might be in the tasting room interacting with guests, in the office reviewing bottle and label designs, or on the road hosting a tasting event with Colby.
WE are HANDS-ON FOUNDERS. THIS IS OUR LIFE, our TRUE PASSION.
