Black Frost Distilling is proud to announce the release of its Blended Malted Rye Whiskey on Saturday, March 1, 2025. This is the second whiskey released by the Minnesota-based, northern terroir-driven distillery, following the inaugural release of its Wheated Blended Bourbon Whiskey at the end of 2024. This Malted Rye Whiskey is made from grains grown entirely on the co-founder's family farm and aged exclusively in Minnesota-grown oak barrels to create a true expression of northern terroir-influenced whiskey.“

Minnesota is unique in the fact that everything you need to make whiskey grows exceptionally well here. We saw this as an opportunity to intentionally box ourselves in from a creative standpoint and only utilize ingredients that we either grow ourselves or source from here in the northland,” says Jace Marti, the co-founder and master distiller at Black Frost. “Minnesota is also one of the largest producers of rye in the country, so it makes sense to have rye whiskey be a major focus of our distillery.”

The Blended Rye Malt Whiskey starts with an heirloom variety of rye called Danko, grown just a few short miles from the distillery on co-founder Nate Gieseke’s family farm. After harvest, the rye is then sent to a nearby malt house to undergo the malting process before being shipped back to the distillery, where it is mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled onsite.

“Utilizing malted and caramel malted rye in lieu of the traditional use of raw rye grain results in a distinctly different take on rye whiskey. The malting process amplifies the character of the rye itself, and adds layers of depth and complexity that carry through to the whiskey.”

Black Frost utilizes a long, slow fermentation in uniquely shaped, open-top wooden fermenters.  This allows the natural flora that comes from the rye to play a significant role in the process, producing rich, fruity notes while lending a soft, creamy mouthfeel to the whiskey.

“In wine there is a saying that vines that struggle produce the best wines. With our rye whiskey, we share a certain similarity to that mantra in the fact that our rye fermentations struggle mightily. The result, though, is a uniquely elegant rye whiskey with bright, fruity notes of dried apricots, Mexican chocolate, sweet caramel, orange cola, and vanilla.”

Black Frost Blended Rye Whiskey is bottled in 750ml bottles at 92 proof and will be available for purchase at the distillery and the finest retail locations throughout Minnesota starting March 1st with a suggested retail price of $54.

About Black Frost Distilling:
Black Frost Distilling was founded in 2022 by a 6th generation brewmaster and a 6th generation family farmer with the goal of creating Bourbon, Rye, and American Single Malt whiskies with a distinct sense of northern terroir. Black Frost utilizes malted grains grown on our co-founder’s family farm, embraces the wild qualities of open-top wooden fermenters, and ages their whiskies exclusively in Minnesota-grown oak barrels. Every step of the process serves as an opportunity to showcase the uniqueness of their environment through the exclusive use of northern-grown ingredients. Learn more at blackfrostdistilling.com or follow Black Frost Distilling on social media to keep up with the latest news and announcements on Facebook and Instagram at @blackfrostdistilling.