History

Watershed Distillery is an Ohio-based distillery in the Columbus area. According to its website, Watershed Distillery sells Ohio’s #1 selling Ohio-made bourbon and gin portfolios, and they also produce an award-winning craft vodka as well as a range of specialty spirits. The distillery is located in Grandview and offers distillery tours as well as Watershed Kitchen + Bar, which is frequently cited as one of the best cocktail bars and restaurants in Columbus. The site also mentions that Watershed was one of the first distilleries in Ohio with its own restaurant.

Production / Manufacturing

Distillation takes place in Columbus, Ohio. The product range includes, among others, OH4Y Bourbon, Watershed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, and a number of other bourbon variants. Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is 100% distilled, aged, and bottled at Watershed Distillery; the Bottled-in-Bond concept is described as having transparent labels and requirements such as 100 proof and at least 4 years of aging in a bonded facility, with the label indicating where it was distilled and bottled. Watershed finisher bourbons include several cask types: - Port cask finish (Port wine) - Nocino finish (barrel-aged with the house black walnut liqueur) - Toasted oak finish (hand-toasted barrels) - Maple Syrup finish (barrel-aged with homemade maple syrup) The Fall Finishing Series is an annual exclusive collection of limited releases inspired by autumn and the Ohio theme, where each year’s finishes reflect the season’s traditions and local collaborations. The Maple Syrup finish highlights the entire local supply chain: barrels from Speyside Bourbon Cooperage in Jackson, Ohio; maple syrup from Sweetwater’s Maple in Alliance; and everything is homegrown in Ohio. The Nocino finish uses barrels that previously held Ohio Nocino aged in oak; the Port finish uses Port barrels from Pedroncelli Winery and other co-producers in Cognac, France and Kentucky. The Toasted finish is described as developed through hand-toasted barrels. Additionally, Watershed has had a Great Lakes Christmas Ale barrel finish in an Ohio-only collaboration.

In addition to bourbon, Watershed also produces Bourbon Barrel Gin and other spirits such as Vodka, Apple Brandy, and Nocino (as well as Guild Gin and Four Peel Gin). Old Fashioned is also available as a bottled cocktail. Watershed also notes that some products are exclusive bottle shop releases and limited releases.

Products / Whisky Series

• OH4Y Bourbon: marketed as Ohio’s #1 Ohio-made bourbon.
• Watershed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon: 100 proof, distilled, aged, and bottled at Watershed Distillery; the label indicates where it was distilled and bottled. Bottled-in-Bond requirements include that it comes from a single distillation season and meets the transparency expectations.
• Bourbon finishing in Port, Toasted Oak, Nocino, and Maple Syrup finishes.
• Fall Finishing Series (limited releases):
• Maple Syrup (Batch 003): 100% Ohio-made; finish from Speyside Bourbon Cooperage (Jackson, OH); maple syrup from Sweetwater’s Maple (Alliance)
• Nocino (Batch 006): finish in Ohio Nocino barrels; notes of orange peel, spices, and roasted nuts
• Port (Batch 002): finish in Port wine casks; notes of dark fruits and red wine undertones
• Toasted (Batch 001): finish in hand-toasted barrels; notes of vanilla and toffee
• Great Lakes Christmas Ale Barrels: Limited Release in collaboration with Great Lakes Brewing Company (Ohio-only)
• Bourbon Barrel Gin: a gin aged in Watershed bourbon barrels
• Guild Gin and Four Peel Gin: award-winning gins in Watershed’s portfolio
• Apple Brandy: made from Ohio apples and aged in charred oak barrels
• Nocino: a nutty liqueur made from green walnuts, aged in used bourbon barrels
• Old Fashioned: bottled cocktail, ready to serve

Visits / Experiences

Watershed Distillery offers tours from Wednesday to Sunday. A tour lasts about an hour and includes a tasting of four of Watershed’s products along the way. Distillery tours also include access to the Bottle Shop with exclusive bottle shop releases and other items. Private tours are also available for larger groups. Address: 1145 Chesapeake Ave, Columbus, OH 43212. There is free parking in the surrounding area.

Philosophy

Watershed highlights the use of Ohio ingredients and local partners. The Maple Finishing Series emphasizes that all elements in the series are 100% Ohio-made, including the barrels and locally produced maple syrup. The series celebrates autumn warmth and Ohio’s traditions and is described as a celebration of local craftsmanship and community. They also emphasize transparency and quality through Bottled-in-Bond documentation and the history behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act, as well as a focus on craftsmanship and time as essential elements for achieving high quality in their products.