It’s the dead of Summer. The type of heat where sweat visits all the wrong places. The uncertainty of what’s ahead is killing you. You battle through the brush. Tree’s stand tall and the rustle of leaves in the wind whisper for you to go onward, and you listen. Wading through a wispy trail of manna grass you finally hear it, out of nowhere, soft waves brushing the rocks and a chorus of loons praising your arrival. You see the blue of freshwater; the type of blue that lets you know you’ve stumbled upon a majestic remote lake begging to be jumped into. You forged the path, conquered the sweat, and now others have the chance to follow.

Nestled inside a re-purposed warehouse near Walker’s Point, is one of Milwaukee’s newest distilleries, Twisted Path. The brain child of Brian Sammons, whose career was that deep forest and that lake his distillery, his destiny. 2014 saw the opening of this organic distillery and their mission is quite simple: Spirits from scratch, never compromising quality for efficiency — and, make it taste great.

Last week I picked up my first bottle of his gin. After pouring it neat, a quick whiff and a subtle gesture to the lips, it was down the hatch. Quickly learning this was no simple juniper juice, it’s strength resulted in a wide-eyed stare at the empty glass and a few extra chest hairs sprouting up in the process. This is a 92 proof gin, folks. So yes, this spirit is packed with a pleasant punch that is powerful not only in its proof but in the complexity of its flavoring. These flavors revealed themselves beautifully as they traveled into the abyss.

It has a strong pine taste that was the base for a number of earthly flavors almost too complex for description so I will just cut to the chase. This fine gin includes African honeybush, cinnamon, cardamom, angelica root, coriander, sweet and bitter orange peel, lemongrass and vapor-infused hops.

It was glorious. It was potent. It was an experience. Now with a disclaimer, this isn’t an all-day drinking gin. So pump your brakes, and take it sip by sip. A lesson I learned around my fourth glass. With such heavy artillery at your disposal, you need to consult the owner’s manual. Use this not for quick consumption but for steady concoction. The boys at Twisted Path adjoin with a little taste haven known as the Dock 18 Cocktail Lab; a place that allows professional mixologists to build you the right drink for the right time of day.

Now, if you don’t know Bittercube, you should. The Dock18 Cocktail Lab was conceived of and is operated by Bittercube.  They’re the mad scientists creating not only the recipes but introducing ingredients using their specialized line of bitters. You will also find the use of mixers made by Top Note Tonic, a Milwaukee based company specializing in real soft beverages.

In my happy stupor, I’m signing off with a Dock 18 recipe that is sure to provide relief with a little hair of the dog as they say. Special thanks to Brian for allowing us to check out his space. Take some time to visit their website or just swing in for a tasting. With that, we leave you with a little 101 on a brunch-time favorite: The Ramos Gin Fizz.

Cheers…