Brian Sammons started his career in Washington D.C., working in counterterrorism for the CIA and Department of Defense. After attending UW-Madison law school while on leave from his job, his life took a sudden turn. He met his future wife and decided that he wanted to settle down and start a family here in Wisconsin. Knowing there wouldn’t be many CIA-type jobs available in the Dairy State, he found work as a prosecutor in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office. Meanwhile, he spent his nights and weekends developing a new interest – distilling liquor.

“I’m very much a do-it-yourself type,” says Sammons. Growing more serious about the hobby, he built his own equipment and patented a distilling process. As he started to see success in his new effort, he decided to go all out and open his own distillery in 2013. When it came time to choose a name, he thought about how he had gotten here.

“Follow your own twisted path,” he says, became his mantra and business name.

Twisted Path products now include Chai Liqueur, white and dark rum, vodka, Twisted Bloody Vodka, and a limited-edition whiskey only available in Sammons’ Lincoln Warehouse tasting room. You can also find Twisted Path drinks at retailers and bars in and around Wisconsin.