Ashley and Colby Frey, the husband-and-wife team behind Nevada’s Frey Ranch Distillery, bring a farm-to-glass approach to cocktails: use fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. Ashley Frey, whose distillery was named Food & Wine’s 2026 Distillers of the Year, recommends three whiskey drinks that are easy to make and suit different occasions.

Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned combines whiskey, sugar and bitters. Its simple recipe lets the spirit shine, and it can be made with either bourbon or rye. Bourbon gives the drink a rounder, sweeter flavor, while rye makes it drier and spicier.

The Freys like to add local touches, such as fresh garnishes and locally made bitters. Because the drink is so adaptable, it’s a year-round favorite.

Paper Plane

Created by bartender Sam Ross in 2008, the Paper Plane is made with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice. The result is a bright, citrusy drink balanced by bittersweet Italian liqueurs.

It’s Colby Frey’s favorite, and Ashley says it works especially well as an evening drink in fall and winter.

Gold Rush

The Gold Rush, a modern take on the Whiskey Sour, combines bourbon, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup. At Frey Ranch, it’s known as the “Farmer’s Lemonade.”

Freshly squeezed lemons and local honey give the drink its farm-to-glass character. The honey’s flavor can vary depending on which flowers bees pollinated, adding floral, herbal or earthy notes. Ashley says the refreshing cocktail is ideal for a hot, sunny day outdoors.