Description
Watershed was founded by Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo in 2010, but the idea to start a distillery was conceived years earlier while Lehman was playing professional volleyball in Switzerland. Inspired by the locally produced spirits that were common in the area, Greg thought about the possibility of creating spirits in his Ohio hometown. He shared his idea with Dave and they began working on making it a reality. Before prohibition, Ohio was home to dozens of distilleries producing unique flavors specific to the region. However, since prohibition Ohio had become one of the most difficult states to start a distillery. In 2007, Greg and Dave began working on what would become the newest addition to the very long history of micro-distilling in Ohio – Watershed Distillery, known for its handcrafted, artisan-quality vodka, gins, and bourbon.
Bourbon Barrel Gin from Watershed Distillery
Watershed Distillery Tasting Note
Bourbon and Gin are two of our favorite things. Naturally, we wondered what would result if our gin was influenced by a tasty bourbon barrel. We carefully selected old bourbon barrels and used them to age our Four Peel Gin. The result is surprising and delicious.
Vos Selections Tasting Note
“Bourbon and Gin are two of our favorite things. Naturally, we wondered what would result if our gin was influenced by a tasty bourbon barrel. We carefully selected old bourbon barrels and used them to age our Four Peel Gin. The result is surprising and delicious.” The process: Dave and Greg take their Four Peel Gin at slightly higher than bottling proof and place it in a once used Bourbon barrel. They age the gin for one full year and typically only blend 2 to 3 barrels at a time, proof, and bottle. The Bourbon Barrel Gin picks up some of the great barrel notes and sweetness (there is no sugar added, natural sweetness). The barrel also knocks down some of the Juniper spice for a smoother quality. 88 Proof.
Proof66 Tasting Note
Watershed Distillery gin describes itself as a “light, modern gin” with the traditional juniper flavor plus “seven other carefully selected botanicals” including cassia, Jamaica pepper, and coriander.
From the website and owner Greg Lehman: “We use a fair amount of juniper and coriander, but we’ve evolved the traditional gin flavor profile with a combination of citrus peel which emphasizes an orange and grapefruit note.” The Bourbon Barrel version aged their gin for 12 months, giving it a light color and presumably a softening, oak-driven vanilla/caramel flavor. (The theory is similar to the anejo or “aged” style of tequila that softens the agave.) Watershed Distillery does business in Columbus, Ohio since 2009 in what they describe as a “cozy” 1,985 square foot facility. They use a 60-gallon custom-made column still.
The Gin Tasting Note
Wood and citrus most prominently on the nose, Meyer Lemon, bitter orange notes, fresh cut wood, and an intriguing cherry undernote whose low notes have peppery and vivid cinnamon stick. There’s a perceptible warmth to the nose as well.
