Distillery: Watershed Distillery—Columbus, OH
Proof: 125.5 (63.25% ABV)
Age: Three Years, Eight Months + Four Years, Seven Months in Nocino Cask
Mashbill: Undisclosed, reportedly high corn
MSRP: $90
Cask Strength Bourbon — European Influence
Lost Lantern Whiskey’s Spring 2025 Collection continues the independent bottler’s approach for finding and bringing forward unique whiskeys. One of the distinctive bottles in this season’s lineup is a collaboration with Watershed Distillery in Columbus, Ohio—a release that stands out for its rare finishing barrel: ex-Nocino casks.
For many whiskey drinkers, Nocino may be an unfamiliar term. It certainly was for me. Nocino is a traditional Italian liqueur made by infusing unripe green walnuts in alcohol. After steeping, the walnuts and alcohol are separated and the alcohol is mixed with a simple syrup. Additives such as cinnamon, clove, vanilla bean, coffee beans and/or lemon or orange zest are often added. The result is a rich, dark, bittersweet liqueur known for its warming spice and earthy, nutty character. In Italy, it’s most often consumed as a digestif—a small, flavorful pour served after a meal, intended to settle the stomach and aid digestion. While I’ve not sampled Nocino, my research shows it is bold and is often handmade in small batches, which makes it a strange choice for a bourbon that would already have its own intriguing character due to the high corn mashbill.
This expression begins with a 3-year and 8-month-old straight bourbon from Watershed Distillery, made from a high-corn mashbill and initially aged in new charred oak. It is then finished for a remarkable 4 years and 7 months in barrels that previously held Watershed’s own Nocino liqueur. That brings the total age to over eight years, making it one of the longest-aged Lost Lantern releases to date. Bottled at 126.5 proof, this is a limited-run whiskey with only 200 bottles available, each priced at $90.
Lost Lantern Watershed Nocino Finished Ohio Straight Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.5/5
The Nose opens with sweet, sugary and nutty almonds—think almond and vanilla extract paired together. Some baking spices underpinned by subtle notes of sweet oak. There’s a warm richness that is reminiscent of brown sugar, and a faint touch of dried orange peel. There are prototypical bourbon notes that are influenced by the Nocino cask.
Palate – 4.75/5
At 126.5 proof, this is a dense and full-bodied pour right from the start. Flavors of toffee, toasted oak, and spiced walnut come through immediately. Some herbal notes, and a cocoa bitterness that balances the initial sweetness. Mid-Palate there is a shift that brings molasses and black tea. I tried toning down the proof with a rock. The approach brought forward much more of the sweet notes making for an entirely different experience which upped the Palate score.
Finish – 4.25/5
The Finish is long, earthy, and spicy. As the sweetness fades, a bitter walnut remains accompanied by charred oak. It’s a slow, steady fade that has echoes of both bourbon and a coffee liqueur that I presume is of the finishing cask.
Value – 4.5/5
At $90, this release delivers a unique experience. The extended Nocino cask finish seems like a gimmick at first, but it adds a level of intrigue that dramatically reshapes the flavor profile of a high corn bourbon. The 8+ year age, high proof, and small batch (200 bottles) make it a compelling buy for enthusiasts seeking something different. This is the kind of bottle that sparks good whiskey conversation in and among enthusiasts.
Lost Lantern Watershed Nocino Finished Ohio Straight Bourbon Review: The Verdict
While all the rage, Secondary Finishes can add a significance to an otherwise ho-hum expression. I’m not saying this started out as a ho-hum bourbon because I have no way of knowing that. What I can say is Lost Lantern Watershed Nocino Finished Straight Bourbon is a bold and creative whiskey. The dark, nutty richness of the Nocino barrel is layered into the bourbon, resulting in a pour that’s not a casual sipper but is complex, and highly satisfying.
Whether or not you’re familiar with Nocino, this release opens the door to a different kind of Secondary Finish. If you’re looking to explore barrel finishes beyond the typical port, sherry, or rum, this is one of the most distinctive cask-finished bourbons on the market this year.
Verdict – 4.5/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
