On June 13, 2025, the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento transformed into a whiskey lover’s paradise for the third annual Off the Rails Whiskey Festival. This premier event, hosted in partnership with The Pantheon and Locked Barrel, welcomed over 50 distilleries showcasing nearly 300 premium labels, delighting attendees with a vast array of top-shelf whiskeys, bourbons, and more.

From 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, general admission guests savored exclusive tastings and mingled with distillers, gaining insights into the craft behind their favorite spirits. VIP ticket holders enjoyed an elevated experience, including a ride on the exclusive whiskey train featuring rare pours from Suntory Global Spirits. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Sacramento’s finest food trucks served up complimentary eats, perfectly complementing the rich flavors of the evening.

Held at the iconic Railroad Museum, the festival blended history with indulgence, creating an unforgettable night for whiskey enthusiasts. Tickets, available through Locked Barrel, sold quickly, underscoring the event’s growing popularity. Mark your calendars for next year’s fest on Friday June 19th, 2026, and don’t miss out on this spirited Sacramento tradition.

All information for the 2026 Whiskey Fest can be found at Locked Barrel, and by following us on Instagram @whiskeybonded and Patreon.

Nestled on Victoria Island Farms in Holt, California, Sabbatical Distillery is redefining craft distilling by blending agricultural heritage with innovative spirit-making. This boutique distillery, known for its grain-to-glass approach, uses farm-harvested ingredients to produce a standout lineup of award-winning whiskeys and other spirits, earning accolades in international competitions.

Sabbatical’s whiskey offerings include their Straight Single Malt Whiskey, a distillery-exclusive barrel-finished release with rich, complex flavors, and their Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged over five years in charred new American oak casks for a bold yet delicate profile at 50% ABV. Their Blended Whiskey showcases a Japanese-style influence, offering smooth, nuanced notes that have captivated enthusiasts. Beyond whiskey, Sabbatical’s portfolio features the Sabado Gin, celebrated for its vibrant botanicals, and a unique Blueberry Lemon Vodka, praised for its refreshing twist.

Visitors can explore the distillery’s bottle shop and tasting room, open for weekend tours, where co-owner Daniel Leonard guides guests through the art of their craft. With the help of one of our OG Patrons, we were fortunate enough to do a bottle share at the distillery along with meeting the owners, Jack and Danny, and getting a personalized tour of the facility. We even got a sneak peek and tasting of their “secret cabinet” pours, which Tim was so gracious to share with us.

Given it was Father’s Day weekend, in honor of, we did a fun giveaway of some specialty bottles to the Patrons who attended. Congratulations to our winners…Nick, Kenny, Tom, and Javi!!!

Available for purchase online with direct delivery in California, Sabbatical’s spirits are a must-try for whiskey aficionados. Stop by or visit drinksabbatical.com to discover their small-batch excellence.

Nestled in Fallon, Nevada, Frey Ranch Distillery is a true farm-to-bottle operation, crafting award-winning whiskeys from grains grown on their 1,200-acre family farm. Founded in 2006 by Colby and Ashley Frey, this estate distillery carries forward a five-generation farming tradition, transforming homegrown barley, corn, rye, and wheat into exceptional spirits. The Freys’ commitment to sustainability and quality has made Frey Ranch one of the few estate distilleries in the U.S., earning accolades like “Whisky of the Year” from Whisky Advocate.

Colby Frey, a fifth-generation farmer, oversees the distilling process, drawing on his agricultural roots and experience from the family’s winery, established by his father, Charlie Frey, in 2001. Ashley Frey, with her background in marketing and legal services, drives the distillery’s branding and operations, creating a distinct identity for their grain-to-glass ethos. Their hands-on approach ensures every step—farming, malting, distilling, and aging—happens on-site, resulting in authentic whiskeys.

Frey Ranch’s offerings include their flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a four-grain spirit with notes of caramel and oak, and their Single Malt Whiskey, a smoky, complex pour. Their Rye Whiskey highlights the spice of their farm-grown rye, while limited releases like the Single Barrel Bourbon showcase unique flavor profiles.

A group of us were invited out to pick a Single Barrel Rye with Jason from Locked Barrel. Our assignment was to pick the best Rye out of a lineup of six different offerings. Sounds simple, right? Well, not so simple when you have so many amazing pours in front of you and you have to narrow it down to just one. In the end we all agreed on #6 having the complexity of flavors we were all looking for. Special thanks to Colby and everyone at Frey Ranch for their hospitality and generosity of their time and knowledge.

Look for our “Locked & Bonded” Single Barrel Rye coming out soon. We will announce the release on our socials as well as Patreon.

You can find all the Frey Ranch spirits in their tasting room or online at freyranch.com.