By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Aug 23, 2021 at 10:03 AM

Milwaukee’s Twisted Path Distillery is releasing a unique Blood Mary spirit.

The distillery, which has also made pre-mixed cocktails, as well as whiskey, gin, vodka and other organic spirits, is launching Twisted Bloody Vodka – a Bloody Mary mix in vodka that you mix with tomato juice – with a brats and bloodies event Saturday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. at the tasting room in the Lincoln Warehouse, 2018 S. 1st St.

There will be brats on the grill, Bloody samples and 750ml bottles of the new quaff for $30.

You can enjoy a super-local Bloody at the event because the beer chasers will come from New Barons Brewing Coop, which shares a common wall with Twisted Path.

So, why Twisted Bloody Vodka?

“First, we can use all real ingredients, no flavorings or preservatives. Just real spices, salt, vinegar and vodka,” says founder and owner Brian Sammons. “Because we use all real spices, it tastes better."

“Second, it’s non-perishable. So you can get plain tomato juice in whatever size containers you want, and keep Twisted Bloody Vodka in your liquor cabinet. If you only want one bloody, just pop open a small can of tomato juice and mix it with Twisted Bloody Vodka. You don’t have to get out nine different things or have a mediocre tomato-based mix going bad in your fridge.”

Sammons says the new spirit is infused with a dozen spices.

“(It) isn’t too spicy,” he says. “It is a bit prickly, but doesn’t have the lingering burn of hot peppers, or one particular spice that stands out above the rest. That’s intentional. We want it to be a really great bloody that appeals to all Bloody fans but is easily customizable for those who like to put their own twist on it – and heat is probably the easiest thing to add."

“In addition, it is organic, gluten free and vegan, so everyone can enjoy it.”

For more info visit twistedpathdistillery.com.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.