Twisted Path Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Twisted Path Distillery is located in Lincoln Warehouse in Milwaukee and was opened by Brian Sammons in 2013. The distillery makes organic small-batch gin, vodka, rum, whiskey, and liqueurs with a pragmatic 'made from scratch' mindset. The place is particularly known for its botanically driven gin, its bottled-in-bond rye in limited batches, and for a cocktail-oriented tasting room where many products can only be purchased on-site.
History
Brian Sammons founded Twisted Path in 2013 after a career shift from defense, intelligence, and law. He and his family decided to establish the distillery in Milwaukee and build a practical, tangible production site. Sammons is a self-taught distiller and from the beginning has used a DIY approach: he developed a patented heating system for the first still and, among other things, built a water heater for mashing. Innovation and experimentation have been central to the process, while working with traditional techniques.
Raw Materials and Production
Production uses rye. The raw materials come from organic ingredients, and botanicals are mentioned as part of the distillery's approach to spirit production.
Distillation is carried out by small-batch distillation. For gin, botanicals are steeped in high-proof spirit and re-distilled; the distillery has also distilled individual botanicals to build a 'flavor library'.
Notable production features include steeping botanicals and redistillation for gin, building a flavor library by distilling individual botanicals, DIY equipment development (patented heating system, water heater), small-batch production, the 'Made From Scratch In Milwaukee' motto, and experimentation and innovation as cornerstones.
Aging and Barrel Types
The documented rye whiskey is a bottled-in-bond blend of six barrels, aged for over four years and bottled at 100 proof. Beyond the aging time and the principle of blending multiple barrels, no specific barrel types or prior contents are described in the available information.
Whiskies
The range includes a botanically driven gin, small-batch rye whiskey in limited batches, vodka (including flavored variants), white and dark rums, and several liqueurs such as chai. The gin is presented as juniper-dominated but smooth and rounded in taste, and the whiskey is released in batches that are often only available in the tasting room. Distribution is handled locally in Wisconsin, while many products can be purchased directly in the tasting room or online.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottled-In-Bond Rye Whiskey (Batch Five) | Rye whiskey | 50% | Over 4 years | Wisconsin's first bottled-in-bond rye. Batch five is a blend of six barrels, aged for over four years and bottled at 100 proof. This batch is sold only in the distillery's tasting room. | Limited; Only in the distillery's tasting room; the distillery's whiskey is sold primarily locally and is not widely distributed. |
| Twisted Path Gin | Gin | A juniper-dominated, botanically driven gin, presented as a London Dry-style in aroma but softer and rounder in taste. The recipe was developed by distilling individual botanicals and building a 'flavor library'. Gin is produced by steeping botanicals in high-proof spirit and re-distillation. | Current; Core range; In Wisconsin distributed by Capitol-Husting/Allstate Liquor; also sold in tasting room and online store. | ||
| Twisted Path Vodka | Vodka | Current; Core range; Sold from the tasting room and via the distillery's webshop. | |||
| White Rum | Rum | Current; Sold from the tasting room and online store. | |||
| Dark Rum | Rum | Current; Sold from the tasting room and online store. | |||
| Bloody Vodka | Flavored vodka | Current; Sold from the tasting room and online store. | |||
| Chai Liqueur | Liqueur | Current; Sold from the tasting room and online store. | |||
| Cilantro Vodka | Flavored vodka | Current; Sold from the tasting room and online store. |
Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies
Three recurring directions stand out clearly: a pronounced juniper profile in the gin, spicy and robust notes in the rye whiskey, and a notable caramel sweetness associated with the aging of the whiskey. These characteristics are mentioned directly in the product descriptions for the gin and the bottled-in-bond rye.
Visiting the Distillery
The public can visit the tasting room in Lincoln Warehouse, where guided tours and tastings of about 60 minutes are offered. Walk-ins are welcome, but online booking is recommended to secure a spot, as groups are kept small. The tasting room has an industrial vibe and regular hours later in the week and on weekends; there is on-site parking and the option for street parking.
The stated hours are: Wednesday 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Thursday 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Friday 5:00 PM–12:00 AM; Saturday 1:00 PM–12:00 AM; Sunday 1:00 PM–6:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
Twisted Path combines respect for traditional distillation techniques with an active willingness to innovate. 'Made From Scratch In Milwaukee' is a guiding motto, and the distillery emphasizes organic ingredients, practical equipment development, and an experimental approach to recipe development.
Sustainability
The use of organic ingredients is mentioned in the production description.