Watershed Distillery out of Ohio recently said it is launching the second version of a limited, barrel strength bourbon that’s finished in apple brandy casks.
The 2021 Watershed Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002 is set to come out this Saturday at the distillery, with limited allocation in Ohio retail locations and select markets across the U.S. to follow.
The release follows Batch 001 from back in September 2020, made for the distillery’s 10-year anniversary, which sold out in less than three hours.
Batch 002 was created from some of the last remaining barrels of Watershed Distillery’s original five grain mash bill of corn, wheat, rye, barley, and spelt (an ancient grain grown primarily in Ohio and a nod to the distillery’s craft roots).
Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002 was created from copper pot-distilled bourbon, aged four years in virgin char #4 white oak barrels, and finished for 34-45 months in Watershed’s own Ohio apple brandy casks.
Bottled without chill filtration at 120.8 proof, Batch 002 was created from barrels 100-percent distilled, aged, and bottled on-site, and represents the oldest bourbon ever released by Watershed Distillery.
“When selecting the barrels for this batch of our Barrel Strength Bourbon, our Barrel Master Anne Dimmick and I set out to highlight the true depth and complexity of the bourbon we make at Watershed Distillery,” said Head Distiller Aaron Harris in a prepared statement. “We’re always looking for that ‘magic’ in a barrel … a rich and bold bourbon with balanced sweetness, and we think Batch 002 captures that perfectly.”
Watershed will release 3,060 bottles of this offering to seven markets; Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Michigan. Suggested retail price is $89.99.
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Batch 002 is the latest offering in Watershed’s family of aged spirits. This summer, the distillery moved to a fully-aged stated bourbon portfolio with the launch of Watershed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon and the relaunch of their flagship Watershed Distillery Bourbon as a 4-6 year blend of three bourbons.
Official tasting notes for it are below.
- Appearance: Deep amber.
- Aroma: Dark brown sugar caramel, roasted oak and rich vanilla.
- Flavor: The palate brings with it a full-bodied rich viscosity, with complex notes of fig, peripheral spice, and a touch of black cherry and toasted nuttiness.
- Age: 6-8 years
- Proof: 120.8
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