In a collaboration with Marianne Eaves, Columbus, Ohio-based Watershed Distillery is set to release a new premium cask strength bourbon available only via online lottery starting Feb. 16.
Watershed is one of eight craft distilleries to be included in Eaves Blind—a premium, collectible bourbon series curated by Marianne Eaves, recognized as the first female master distiller in Kentucky. Created with the intent of stripping away bourbon stereotypes, the series showcases some of the most awarded craft bourbon distilleries in regions beyond Kentucky.
“My ‘aha moment’ was realizing that there are so many other regions and distilleries outside of Kentucky that are making exceptional bourbons, too,” shares Eaves. “This Ohio collaboration gave me the chance finally to work with some energetic and trailblazing industry friends. Watershed should be on everyone’s shortlist of amazing bourbons and believe me when I say they are only going to get better from here.”
Watershed Eaves Cask Strength Bourbon was created to highlight the attention the Ohio distillery pays to key aspects of the bourbon making process, specifically grain and mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation.
All the unique, single-source bourbons in the series were first sampled throughout 2021 in blind seasonal tasting kits intended to remove preconceived bourbon stereotypes: color and indications of age, quality, etc. Now, each expression is available for bourbon lovers and spirit collectors.
“Here at Watershed, there has been quite a bit of excitement around this project,” adds Greg Lehman, CEO of Watershed Distillery. “Not only was it an honor to work side by side with Marianne, but to be selected to be in the company of these other emerging distilleries was a real point of pride for us.”
Watershed Eaves Cask Strength Bourbon is bottled at 130.3 proof with topline tasting notes of warm cinnamon and brown sugar, citrus peel and toasted oak with a sweet creamy palate. The price is $150 per 750 ml bottle. The bottle lottery will open on Feb. 16 and close on March 9. Must be 21 years or older to enter. Winners will be notified and allotted the opportunity to purchase one bottle in person from Watershed’s bottle shop.
Eaves’ collectible series features blends from seven other award-winning distilleries across the U.S.: Oregon Spirit Distillers (Bend, OR), Distillery 291 (Colorado Springs, TX), St. Augustine Distillery (St. Augustine, FL), Stumpy’s Spirits Distillery (Columbia, IL), Treaty Oak Distillery (Dripping Springs, TX), Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks, MI) and King’s County Distillery (Brooklyn, NY)
For more information or to enter the lottery visit www.watersheddistillery.com/lottery
To learn more about the Eaves Blind Series, visit www.eavesblind.com