Twisted Path 6-Year Overproof Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

Legacy distillers are talented at what they do. They can employ economies of scale to bring the world consistent-tasting whiskeys at usually affordable prices. I have much love and respect for them.

 

Craft distillers – meaning actual craft distillers that aren’t sourcing their distillate, are a breed all their own. Typically, they lack the financial means to operate on a large scale, and even if they could, they don’t have access to vast warehouses required to hold massive amounts of inventory.

 

I’ve visited truly innovative craft distilleries. Sometimes, they’re on family farms and have converted existing structures to warehouse their whiskeys. Sometimes, they work with unique strains of yeast or proprietary heirloom grains. The point is, they’re not making “me too” whiskeys. They’re doing everything possible to differentiate themselves while utilizing what resources are available.

 

Twisted Path Distillery was founded in 2013 by distiller Brian Sammons. He's got a fascinating past:  He worked for the CIA and Department of Defense, specializing in counterterrorism and counterintelligence. He earned a law degree and became a prosecutor. From there, he hung his own shingle in private practice. Then, he got into distilling and taught himself the trade. Afterward, Brian and his wife, Laura, followed their dream of opening a distillery.

 

Twisted Path is located in Milwaukee, and its philosophy is Life is too short to follow someone else's path:

 

“Our name ‘Twisted Path’ is a reference to the concept of life as a path, and our belief that everyone should find their own path, without concern about what other people do or think. It’s about being true to yourself, being authentic.” – Twisted Path Distillery

 

Brian embraces traditional distilling. Yet, his constant curiosity drives him to experiment with different ways of doing things. Sometimes, those ideas fail. Then again, sometimes they don’t. Everything is done in small batches, and no two are alike.

 

Today, I’m exploring Twisted Path’s 6-Year Overproof Bourbon. This marks the first time the distillery has released its whiskey for distribution. Before that, sales occurred on-premises. This Bourbon is distilled from an organic mash of 59% Hopi Blue Indian corn, 32% rye, and 9% wheat. All grains are sourced from The Dolan Family Farm in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. A 750ml is packaged at 54.5% ABV (109°) and has a suggested price of $75.00.

 

Some may wonder what overproof means, as it isn’t commonly used. Its definition is simple: the spirit (in this case, whiskey) is bottled at 50% ABV (100°) or higher. In the days of yore, the standard proof was 100°, so the overproof designation meant it wasn’t bottled at the legal minimum. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the wartime standard bottling proof of 40% ABV (80°) was kept. Finally, the term should not be confused with barrel proof, full proof, or cask strength; while overproof can be any of those, it doesn’t have to be.

 

Before I #DrinkCurious, I must thank Twisted Path for giving me a sample of its Overproof Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. And, since no two batches are alike, I’m sipping from Batch 2 today.

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to drink neat. The liquid looked dark with a reddish hue. A medium rim discharged thick, lightning-fast tears.

 

Nose: The first thing that caught my attention was how, despite the lack of malted barley, it was the first thing I smelled. Next was charred oak, black cherry, caramel, chocolate, rye spice, and leather. When I inhaled through my lips, the aroma tasted of bold vanilla.

 

Palate: Twisted Path’s texture was thick and creamy. The front of my palate found hazelnuts, cocoa, and cherries. Then came corn, barrel char, and caramel. The back offered figs, tobacco, and cinnamon spice.

 

Finish: Long and lingering, the finish included cinnamon spice, rye spice, tobacco, old leather, hazelnuts, and charred oak. I timed its duration at 1:57.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Here’s the thing about Twisted Path’s whiskeys – they’re anything but ordinary. I’m thrilled that Brian is finally getting a wider distribution network after all these years. The Overproof Bourbon was spicy without being a spice bomb. It was sweet and fruity without overpowering the spice notes. That crazy note of malt on the nose without any malt content threw me for a loop.

 

The Overproof Bourbon is well-balanced, captivated my attention, and I enjoyed it immensely. It represents what authentic craft distilling offers, meaning it is unusual. I’m thrilled to have this in my whiskey library and unquestionably convey my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.