History

Twisted Path Distillery was founded in 2013 by distiller Brian Sammons in Milwaukee. Brian had a background in American intelligence, including with the U.S. Department of Defense and the CIA, where he worked in counterterrorism and counterintelligence, before leaving the legal profession and turning his hobby into a career by starting Twisted Path Distillery with his wife Laura. According to the site, Twisted Path was born out of a desire to stay true to oneself and be authentic, and the name refers to the idea of life as a path and the importance of finding your own way without worrying about others' choices.

Since then Twisted Path has combined respect for tradition with innovation, where innovation is a cornerstone of their approach to spirits. They describe themselves as a company that produces handmade, organic and gluten-free products, and the motto "Made From Scratch In Milwaukee" permeates production and design.

Production / Manufacturing

Twisted Path produces a wide range of spirits, with all products according to the website being USDA Certified Organic and Gluten Free. The production technique combines traditional methods with experimental approaches: - White Rum: Long fermentation of organic Paraguayan molasses and slow distillation at a low proof to preserve character. - Dark Rum: Fermented on Paraguayan molasses and distilled in copper pot stills, aged in barrels that previously held rye whiskey to achieve complexity; the aged barrels are blended and bottled as a single batch. - Vodka: Fermented and distilled from local organic corn; uses an advanced column (up to 16 plates) and slow distillation process to retain a small amount of character in the vodka. - Gin: A style similar to London Dry; botanicals are infused in high-proof spirit and redistilled; hops are used to capture freshness without bitterness. - Chai Liqueur: Organic chai brewed as tea in strong concentration, then diluted to 80 proof; no artificial additives according to the product page. - Cilantro Vodka: Vodka distilled with fresh cilantro and without artificial flavors.

Whiskey Series

Twisted Path sells a Bottled-In-Bond Rye Whiskey. It is described as Wisconsin's first Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskey, bottled at 100 proof and aged in multiple barrels (blended). Batch five is available only at the distillery (2018 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee). According to the site, the current whiskey production is mainly sold from the tasting room and has limited distribution.

Visits / Experiences

Twisted Path offers distillery tours and an immersive tasting in their industrial, cozy location. Tours typically last about 60 minutes and include guided tastings of their spirits. Walk-ins are welcome, but online booking is recommended. The distillery is located in Lincoln Warehouse, 2018 South 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207. The hours are Wednesday and Thursday 17:00–22:00, Friday 17:00–00:00, Saturday 13:00–00:00 and Sunday 13:00–18:00. Their tasting room is described as a TV-free place focused on cocktails, freshly pressed and house-made syrups, infusions and bitters – always made in-house, with a cocktail selection ranging from classics to Twists.

Philosophy

Twisted Path describes itself as dedicated to wandering the world of spirits and finding its own path. The name and motto signal a belief in being authentic and doing things in their own way. Their approach to spirits blends respect for tradition with a playful, experimental approach; innovation is a cornerstone of the company, and their focus on craft and ecology runs throughout.