Introduction
At Film & Whiskey, we’re always eager to dive into something new, and today is no exception. We're reviewing Watershed Distillery's bourbon finished in Pinot Noir casks, a special release from the craft distillery located in Columbus, Ohio. This particular expression was gifted to us by a friend of the show.
However, despite Watershed’s growing reputation, information on this bottle is nearly non-existent. We couldn’t find the mash bill or any detailed breakdown of its profile. What we do know is that Watershed has used four-grain mash bills in the past, though we’re unsure if that’s the case here.
Without concrete details, we’ll approach this review as a snapshot of the craft whiskey scene—one where distilleries are increasingly leaning into finishing barrels to stand out. Let’s see how this bourbon fares.
Nose
Bob: Brad, this nose is incredibly young-smelling—very raw and grainy. It's not even the corn; it almost smells like raw oats to me, and it's really sour and unaged. I'm worried about where this is heading.
Brad: Wow, we’re in totally different places on this. I’m picking up notes of grape, wood shavings, vanilla, and brown sugar. I’m not getting that youthfulness you’re talking about.
Bob: It just smells too yeasty to me. I’m going low here and giving it a 4.5/10.
Brad: I’m much higher at 7.5/10. It’s not spectacular, but I’m enjoying the complexity.
Taste
Brad: The grape notes carry through strong on the palate, almost like a grape soda. That familiar 'balsa wood' flavor that I always get with Watershed is here too. It’s a bit funky, but there’s also vanilla and caramel. I’d rate this a solid 7/10.
Bob: I actually don’t mind the palate as much as the nose. I get more of a cherry cola note here, along with some grape skin. There’s a surprising saline quality too, which I wasn’t expecting, but I kind of like it. It drinks much spicier than its 94 proof would suggest, almost like it’s 110 or 115 proof. I’ll stick with 7/10 here as well.
Finish
Brad: For me, the finish is where that balsa wood note really shows up. But the Pinot Noir finish smooths it out nicely. I’m landing at a 6.5/10.
Bob: I think I liked the finish a bit more than the nose but not quite enough to bump my score higher than a 7/10. It’s oily, and there’s some nice butterscotch, but that saltiness lingers in a way that’s unexpected. I just wish there was more of that wine character coming through.
Balance
Bob: On balance, this bourbon is a bit uneven. The Pinot Noir cask should bring more complexity, but it doesn’t quite shine through. There’s a noticeable disconnect between the nose and the palate. I’m giving it a 6/10.
Brad: I agree it’s not perfectly balanced, but I think the Pinot finish does even things out a bit. I’m giving it 6.5/10.
Value
Brad: Now, value is tricky because we don’t have a firm price on this bottle. Given Watershed’s special releases, I’d estimate it falls between $60 and $90. If that’s the case, I don’t think this is a great value, especially considering the competition in that price range. I’ll give it a 5/10.
Bob: Yeah, I feel similarly. If we’re talking $75 or so for this, it’s not worth it. I think this whiskey would benefit from a lower price tag, but at that range, it’s just not delivering enough. I’ll go with a 4.5/10.
Final Scores
- Nose: 7.5/10 (Brad), 4.5/10 (Bob)
- Taste: 7/10 (Brad), 7/10 (Bob)
- Finish: 6.5/10 (Brad), 7/10 (Bob)
- Balance: 6.5/10 (Brad), 6/10 (Bob)
- Value: 5/10 (Brad), 4.5/10 (Bob)
Final Score: 32.5/50 (Brad), 29/50 (Bob)
Conclusion
With a combined final score of 30.75/50, this Watershed Bourbon finished in Pinot Noir casks falls in the range where we’d typically recommend trying a pour at a bar, but we’d hesitate to suggest buying a bottle at full price. While the Pinot Noir finish does add some intrigue, it doesn’t elevate the whiskey enough to justify what is likely a higher price tag.
For context, a 35/50 is where we begin recommending buying a bottle, 40/50 is great, and anything over 45/50 is excellent. In this case, the nose and balance fell short, and the Pinot Noir influence wasn’t strong enough to fully deliver. If you’re a fan of Watershed or experimenting with finished bourbons, it might still be worth checking out. But for most, this release may be best experienced through a pour at a bar.
Cheers!
