Watershed Distillery Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey Review.

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Watershed Distillery Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey Review. 


    Watershed Distillery, based out of Ohio, has quietly been building a strong reputation across several spirit categories, from gin and brandy to finished whiskeys and now straight bourbon. This uncut, unfiltered straight bourbon comes in at a bold 61.1% ABV and carries a stated age of four years. Batch No. 3 was one of the bottles I brought home after a trip to Ohio in early 2025, picked up with genuine excitement after having some excellent past experiences with Watershed releases. Between prior barrel picks and a maple cask-finished expression I really enjoyed, this felt like a safe purchase walking out of the store.


For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/uWqsQNQvJ3Q.

Age Statement: 4 Years. (Batch 003).

ABV: 61.1%.

Mash bill: N/A.

Area of Distillation: Columbus, Ohio.

Appearance: Light golden hue.


On the nose:
    The nose is surprisingly restrained for something north of 120 proof. Ethanol is the dominant player, followed by dusty corn and a light grain-forward note that leans raw rather than sweet. There’s a subtle oiliness, faint cinnamon, and mild oak char, but overall, the profile lacks richness. Traditional bourbon cues like vanilla, brown sugar, or caramel are nearly absent, even after extended time in the glass.


Taste:
    The palate follows the nose in both character and restraint. A light oak presence appears upfront with a quick flash of char, followed by a thin suggestion of apple skin without any fruit sweetness to support it. Pepper and cinnamon provide some heat, but it all feels disjointed, like flavors that never quite connect. Despite its proof, the mouthfeel comes off lighter than expected.


Finish:
    The finish is where things unravel. Bitter tannins begin to dominate, followed by an unwelcome acetone-like note that lingers long past the sip. The longer it sits, the harsher it becomes, leaving a dry, solvent finish that completely overshadows anything the palate tried to offer.


Final Thoughts: 
    This one is frustrating precisely because I’ve had Watershed bottles that were genuinely enjoyable. That context matters here. Batch No. 3 doesn’t reflect what I’ve previously experienced from this distillery, and that makes the result harder to accept. At $70, this bottle carries expectations it simply doesn’t meet. Whether this is a flawed bottle or just a flawed batch, the outcome is the same, the whiskey in the glass doesn’t justify the price or the reputation.


Rating: D+ (Below Average)

Cost: $69.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/uWqsQNQvJ3Q.

Social platforms to follow me: https://linktr.ee/thelastcallyt

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