Watershed Distillery sits in Columbus’s Grandview Heights area, founded in 2010 by Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo, two friends who left corporate careers to chase their passion for craft spirits. Lehman, a former financial advisor, and Rigo, who worked in technology, started experimenting with distillation in a garage before opening Ohio’s first craft distillery since Prohibition. They set up shop in a converted industrial space on Chesapenade Avenue, installing custom copper stills and focusing on small-batch production using locally sourced grains when possible. The duo’s journey wasn’t easy—they spent three years navigating regulations and convincing local officials that a craft distillery could work in Ohio. Their persistence paid off when they became pioneers in the state’s craft spirits movement. Head distiller Murray Hill joined the team early on, bringing technical expertise that helped refine their processes. The philosophy here centers on experimentation and quality, with each batch carefully monitored and adjusted based on what they learn. Visitors walk into a working distillery where you can see the entire operation, from fermentation tanks to their custom-built stills. The tasting room feels industrial yet welcoming, with exposed brick and metal fixtures that don’t try to hide the building’s utilitarian roots. You’re tasting spirits made just steps away, often getting to meet the people who actually made what’s in your glass. It’s the kind of place where founders still show up regularly, and staff know the story behind every bottle.