Watershed Distillery

Watershed Distillery is a craft spirits producer based in Columbus, Ohio. The business was founded by Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo, who began developing the concept in 2008 and formally opened the distillery in 2010. Their ambition was to establish a post-Prohibition distillery in Central Ohio at a time when the region's emerging craft-beverage economy was being led primarily by breweries. Watershed became the second distillery established in Central Ohio after Prohibition and helped build the market for locally made spirits in the state. The distillery received its federal Distilled Spirits Plant license on September 1, 2010. Its first products were vodka and gin, with the first bottles sold through Ohio's state-controlled liquor system in December of that year. Because Ohio regulates spirits through a control-state framework, Watershed initially faced restrictions on selling bottles and offering tastings directly at its production site. Those restrictions became part of a broader industry issue. Lehman joined Ryan Lang of Middle West Spirits and Tom Herbruck of Tom's Foolery Distillery in founding the Ohio Distillers' Guild, which advocated for craft distillers and worked to improve the state's licensing framework. Watershed's early portfolio centered on vodka and an American-style gin. Its original gin was renamed Four Peel Gin in late 2011 after the distillery learned that another small producer used the Watershed Gin name. Four Peel is citrus-forward and uses orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit peels alongside coriander, allspice, cinnamon, and juniper. The brand subsequently expanded into aged and brown spirits. Watershed released its first bourbon in 2012, making what was described as the first legally distilled bourbon whiskey produced in Central Ohio after Prohibition. Its bourbon uses a five-grain mash bill incorporating corn, wheat, barley, rye, and spelt, and is matured in charred 53-gallon barrels. The portfolio also includes Bourbon Barrel Gin, made by aging Four Peel Gin in used bourbon barrels, and Nocino, a black-walnut liqueur introduced in 2014. The distillery's Nocino uses Ohio-grown black walnuts with vodka, vanilla, citrus, spices, and sugar. In the same period, Watershed introduced a bottled Old Fashioned cocktail combining bourbon, orange and aromatic bitters, raw sugar, and Ohio cherry juice. These products broadened the brand beyond conventional vodka and gin and connected its identity to Ohio agricultural ingredients and cocktail culture. Growth led Watershed to plan a major production expansion in 2015. A new American-made still from Headframe Spirits was installed in June 2016, with the stated aim of quadrupling production capacity. This expansion coincided with regulatory changes affecting Ohio microdistilleries. The Ohio Distillers' Guild supported House Bill 351, which was signed into law on June 28, 2016. The law changed the production threshold associated with an A3-a permit and created a path for distilleries to obtain an A1A license permitting a bar or restaurant operation. Watershed used the new framework to open Watershed Kitchen & Bar. Announced in late 2016 and opened in February 2017, it was described as the first restaurant operated by an Ohio distillery under the new licensing system. The venue added food, cocktails, tours, and an on-site hospitality experience to Watershed's manufacturing business. The brand therefore operates not only as a spirits label but also as a destination distillery linking production, retail experiences, education, and dining.

Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo began planning Watershed Distillery in 2008, drawing inspiration from the growth of American craft brewing and seeking to establish a post-Prohibition distillery in Central Ohio. The business received its federal Distilled Spirits Plant license on September 1, 2010, and began producing vodka and gin. Its first bottles were sold through Ohio's state-controlled liquor system in December 2010. Early operations were shaped by Ohio's restrictive alcohol licensing structure. Watershed could distribute bottles through the state's three-tier system but initially could not sell bottles or offer tastings directly at the distillery. The founders therefore became involved in statewide policy advocacy. Lehman worked with Ryan Lang of Middle West Spirits and Tom Herbruck of Tom's Foolery Distillery to establish the Ohio Distillers' Guild, which represented craft distillers and sought changes to licensing and production rules. Legislation passed in December 2011 expanded access to an A3-a permit for qualifying microdistilleries, allowing them to sell bottles and provide samples on site. Watershed expanded its range during the next several years. Its original gin was renamed Four Peel Gin in late 2011. The citrus-led American-style gin became the distillery's signature gin, while Bourbon Barrel Gin added a barrel-aged expression to the range in 2012. That year Watershed also released its first bourbon, described as the first legally distilled bourbon whiskey made in Central Ohio after Prohibition. The bourbon uses a five-grain mash bill and is aged in charred 53-gallon barrels. Nocino, a black-walnut liqueur made with Ohio walnuts and Watershed Vodka, followed in late 2014. A bottled Old Fashioned cocktail was introduced in November 2014. In October 2015, Watershed announced a plan to quadruple production capacity through the purchase of a new still from Headframe Spirits in Montana. The equipment was installed in June 2016. At the same time, the distillery and other Ohio producers faced concerns that increasing production could jeopardize their eligibility for the A3-a permit. The Ohio Distillers' Guild supported House Bill 351, which was signed on June 28, 2016. Among other changes, the law provided a route for Ohio distilleries to obtain an A1A license for a bar or restaurant. Watershed announced Watershed Kitchen & Bar in late November 2016 and opened the venue in February 2017. It was reported as the first Ohio distillery to open a restaurant under the new rules. The restaurant and bar extended the brand's role from spirits production into hospitality, tours, tastings, food, and cocktail service. Publicly documented materials identify the product portfolio as vodka, Four Peel Gin, Bourbon Barrel Gin, bourbon, Nocino, and a bottled Old Fashioned. Later ownership, management, financial performance, and geographic distribution are not established by the supplied reference material.

• 2017

  Watershed Kitchen & Bar opens

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  Watershed opens an on-site restaurant and bar, described as the first of its kind at an Ohio distillery under the new licensing regime.

• 2016

  Production expansion completed

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  A new still is installed as part of a plan to increase production capacity.

• 2016

  House Bill 351 becomes law

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  Ohio's licensing changes create additional opportunities for distilleries to sell on site and operate restaurants.

• 2014

  Nocino and bottled Old Fashioned launched

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  The brand adds a black-walnut liqueur and a ready-to-serve Old Fashioned cocktail.

• 2012

  Bourbon and Bourbon Barrel Gin introduced

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  Watershed launches its first bourbon and its barrel-aged gin, broadening its portfolio beyond clear spirits.

• 2011

  Four Peel Gin name adopted

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  The distillery changes the name of its original gin to Four Peel Gin after a naming conflict with another producer.

• 2011

  Ohio Distillers' Guild helps secure permit reform

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  The guild's advocacy contributes to legislation expanding A3-a permit eligibility for qualifying microdistilleries.

• 2010

  Federal distilling license obtained

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  Watershed receives its Distilled Spirits Plant license on September 1 and begins work on vodka and gin.

• 2010

  First products sold

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  The first Watershed bottles reach Ohio consumers through the state liquor system in December.

• 2008

  Founders begin planning the distillery

  [1]Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org

  Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo start developing plans for a Central Ohio microdistillery.

A Columbus craft distillery focused on Ohio-made spirits, local ingredients, cocktail-oriented products, and an integrated visitor experience combining distilling, tours, and dining.

• Vodka · 2010

  Watershed Vodka

  Introduced in 2010, Watershed Vodka was originally made from Ohio corn. The documented recipe later combined a corn distillate with distillate made from freshly pressed Ohio apple cider. It is bottled at 80 proof and represents one of the distillery's original products.

• American-style gin · 2010

  Four Peel Gin

  Four Peel Gin is Watershed's signature citrus-forward gin and the renamed successor to Watershed Gin. Its botanical formula includes orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit peels, together with coriander, allspice, cinnamon, and juniper. The gin is bottled at 88 proof.

• Barrel-aged gin · 2012

  Bourbon Barrel Gin

  Bourbon Barrel Gin is made by aging Four Peel Gin in previously used bourbon barrels for a full year. The process gives the gin a darker color and adds barrel-derived flavor while retaining the underlying citrus and botanical profile. It is bottled at 88 proof.

• Bourbon whiskey · 2012

  Watershed Bourbon

  Watershed Bourbon uses a five-grain mash bill of corn, wheat, barley, rye, and spelt. It is matured in 53-gallon, charred number-four barrels. The first release was aged two years; the documented shelf product was later aged three years, with the distillery expressing an ambition to develop a six-year-aged bourbon. It is bottled at 94 proof.

• Black-walnut liqueur · 2014

  Nocino

  Nocino is a 48-proof liqueur made with Ohio-grown black walnuts, Watershed Vodka, vanilla bean, orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, and sugar. The product was developed after the distillery learned the traditional style from a local physician interested in commercial American production of Nocino.

• Bottled cocktail · 2014

  Bottled Old Fashioned

  Watershed's bottled Old Fashioned is a ready-to-serve cocktail combining the distillery's bourbon with orange and aromatic bitters, raw sugar, and Ohio cherry juice. It was introduced as part of the broader craft-spirits trend toward high-quality pre-bottled cocktails and is bottled at 70 proof.

• Distillery restaurant and bar · 2017

  Watershed Kitchen & Bar

  Watershed Kitchen & Bar is the brand's on-site hospitality operation, combining food, cocktails, and the distillery visitor experience. It followed Ohio licensing changes that allowed distilleries to pursue restaurant operations and opened in February 2017. It extends Watershed's offering beyond packaged spirits into dining, tours, and direct customer engagement.

• 2016

  Expand into on-site dining and hospitalityStrategy

  Background

  Ohio House Bill 351 created a licensing path for distilleries to operate bars or restaurants.

  Action taken

  Watershed announced and subsequently opened Watershed Kitchen & Bar at its distillery.

  Aftermath

  The business became a combined spirits-production, tourism, dining, and cocktail destination and was reported as the first Ohio distillery to open a restaurant under the new law.

  Source

• 2015

  Plan to quadruple production capacityStrategy

  Background

  Demand and growth were increasing while Ohio permit rules tied certain on-site privileges to production thresholds.

  Action taken

  Watershed announced the addition of an American-built still from Headframe Spirits in Montana; the equipment was installed in June 2016.

  Aftermath

  The new still supported a major capacity expansion and was installed as the company continued advocating for changes to Ohio liquor law.

  Source

• 2011

  Join statewide craft-distillery advocacyStrategy

  Background

  Ohio's licensing rules limited where microdistilleries could sell bottles and provide tastings. Watershed joined with other producers to create a collective industry voice.

  Action taken

  Greg Lehman helped found the Ohio Distillers' Guild, which pursued legislative reform and shared resources among Ohio craft distillers.

  Aftermath

  Legislation passed in December 2011 expanded eligibility for an A3-a permit among qualifying microdistilleries.

  • Middle West Spirits — Middle West Spirits participated in the same Ohio Distillers' Guild advocacy effort.
  • Tom's Foolery Distillery — Tom's Foolery Distillery participated in the formation of the Ohio Distillers' Guild.

  Source

1. 1Watershed Distilleryen.wikipedia.org