Bourbon

Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002)

$69.99

OVERALL
RATING

8

Bourbon Review: Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002)

We review Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002), aged over four years in Ohio-made char-5 barrels before being bottled without added water or filtration.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
An Ohio bourbon aged over four years in Ohio-made char-5 barrels before being bottled without added water or filtration. It is bottled at 125.4 proof and priced at $69.99.
Appearance:
This has the prototypical amber-orange color you’d expect from a bourbon around its age range. It offers well-defined legs and moderate viscosity.
Nose:
There’s a strong reflection of vanilla and caramel on the nose for the aromatics up front here, joined by a strong hint of oak and a slight nod of maple. Further in are more subtle notes of orange peel, dark chocolate, and a minuscule consideration of toasted almonds.
Palate:
The nose’s upfront approach of vanilla and caramel continues on the palate, reflecting a complex bourbon on the younger side. Alongside it is an intense oak note, though not overly oaked. Other considerations of oranges, milk chocolate, toasted almonds, coriander, cinnamon, and some anise in the shadows support these.
Finish:
The finish on this is hot, with some nice cinnamon and oak carrying through for a moderate ending.
Comments:
Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002) is a well-structured whiskey, and I can see why the first batch of it was so award-winning. It by no means falls into the mediocrity many craft bourbons have in this age range, instead existing as a stellar example of how a whiskey like this can shine.
Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002)
We review Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002), aged over four years in Ohio-made char-5 barrels before being bottled without added water or filtration. (image via Watershed Distillery)

Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. However, in accordance with our editorial policies, this has not influenced the outcome of our review in any way.

Watershed Distillery, founded in 2010, started as an idea between two friends to start making their own spirits. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Watershed today produces its home state’s best-selling Ohio-made bourbon and gin portfolios, along with an award-winning vodka and a raft of other specialty spirits.

Besides its spirits-making operations on site, which can be toured by appointment, Watershed also offers visitors to its facility access to the kitchen and bar, which is said to be consistently named one of the top cocktail bars and restaurants in Columbus.

What’s in the bottle

The whiskey being reviewed today, Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002), is a limited edition release aged over four years in a unique selection of char-5 barrels made at an Ohio cooperage. Watershed describes the char-5 as part of its secret sauce for this whiskey—whereas traditional whiskey barrels are char-4, these barrels that hold this special bourbon “sit atop the flame a little longer and impart the incendiary and award-winning flavors and aromas of Watershed’s Uncut Unfiltered.”

Once aging is complete, this bourbon is then bottled without added water or filtration.

“We’ve spent years mastering the craft of bourbon making and are in awe of the impact barrel selection can have on distilled spirits,” said Greg Lehman, founder of Watershed Distillery, when this bourbon was released. “We are excited to be increasing distribution this year on this unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel and giving more Ohio bourbon lovers a chance to try it.”

Watershed Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon (Batch 002) is bottled at 125.4 proof and priced at $69.99.

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Nino Kilgore-Marchetti

Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is the founder of The Whiskey Wash, an award-winning whiskey lifestyle website dedicated to informing and entertaining consumers about whisk(e)y globally. As a whisk(e)y journalist, expert, and judge, he has written extensively about the subject, been interviewed in various media outlets, and provided tasting input on many whiskeys at competitions.

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