Review: Two Souls Spirits Wisconsin Boubon – “Road’s End” and Double Barreled “Pro Bear Rasslin’”

The American whiskey marketplace is crowded with non-distilling producers who purchase whiskey and release it under their own labels. For some, sourced stock is a temporary bridge while their own distillate ages quietly in the background. Others have no intention of ever firing up a still. Within that latter group, the approaches vary widely. A few treat blending as a craft, shaping disparate barrels into something more compelling than any single component. Others simply combine barrels, cross their fingers, and hope the result passes muster.

On the outer edge of this ecosystem sits a smaller, more idiosyncratic category: the independent bottler. Long established in Scotch whisky and rum, independent bottling has only gained real momentum in American whiskey over the past decade. Independent bottlers also work with sourced whiskey, yet the experience feels fundamentally different. There is no formal rulebook defining what qualifies as an independent bottler, but the distinction is intuitive. You recognize it when you encounter it.

These bottlers tend to partner with genuinely independent distillers, usually operations far removed from the industrial scale of Kentucky, Tennessee, or Indiana’s legacy giants. Although regulations technically allow it, independent bottlers who embrace that identity rarely release bourbon from producers like MGP, George Dickel, or Barton 1792. Instead, their focus often lands on distilleries such as J. Henry & Sons, Watershed, or Kozuba & Sons. Traditional sourced whiskey is frequently excellent, but it is often wrapped in deliberate ambiguity, with branding placed well ahead of provenance. Independent bottling flips that script. Transparency is central to the ethos, and the origin of the whiskey is meant to be seen, not obscured.

There is also a quiet competition at play. Independent bottlers frequently cross paths at the same small distilleries, yet each is locked in an unspoken race to discover and release the next overlooked standout before it enters wider public awareness. When an independent bottler commits to whiskey from a little-known producer, it is often a strong signal that the distillery deserves closer attention.

Two Souls Spirits entered this space in 2021, founded by James Estrada and Chad Civetti as an American independent craft spirits bottler. In 2025, Estrada stepped away from the company, and Karen Gentry joined the operation. Two Souls focuses on single cask releases from standout independent distillers across the United States, always presented at cask strength. Beyond straight-from-the-barrel bottlings, the company occasionally employs secondary maturation, reusing unique barrels from earlier Two Souls releases to add another level of character.

Drinkhacker received bottles of two 2025 releases for review: an 8-year-old Wisconsin Straight Bourbon known as “Road’s End”, and a Double Barreled Straight Bourbon featuring Manifest Distilling, titled “Pro Bear Rasslin’.” Among those who have discovered it, Two Souls has earned a reputation for quality. Even so, the brand remains largely off the radar for many whiskey enthusiasts.

The question now is whether these new releases can push Two Souls beyond the realm of quiet admiration and into broader recognition. There is only one way to find out. Let’s pour a glass and see where the road leads.

Two Souls Wisconsin Straight Bourbon “Road’s End” 8 Years Old Review

Located in Dane, Wisconsin, J. Henry & Sons has made whiskey since 2009, though the Henry family farm itself dates back to 1946. Two Souls identifies this release, Road’s End, as Barrel No. JH2, while J. Henry & Sons records it as barrel #838. The bourbon is distilled from a mashbill of 60% heirloom red corn, 14% winter wheat, 14 % rye, and 12% malted barley, with every grain grown on the Henry family farm.

Fermentation takes place in open-top tanks for 4-5 days at relatively cool temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius. Distillation is handled on two pot stills made by Karl in Germany, a smaller still for the spirit run and a larger still for the stripping run. The distillate leaves the still between 150 and 160 proof and enters the barrel at 118 to 120 proof.

Aging occurred in a Coopers Select barrel from Independent Stave Company, featuring a medium toast and a #3 char. The barrel was built with staves seasoned outdoors for 18 months before kiln-drying. It was filled on April 13, 2017, and bottled on May 5, 2025, resulting in a total maturation of 8 years, 5 months, and 2 days.

The name Road’s End carries personal weight. It marks the final barrel purchased jointly by Chad Civetti and James Estrada before Civetti’s departure from Two Souls Spirits.

The aroma leads with chocolate milk, sanded drywall dust, and brown paper grocery sacks. With time in the glass, notes of unsweetened chai tea, cola residue, and dry white cake mix become apparent. Wisconsin’s climate makes its presence known, as oak and spice show themselves with little emphasis on sweetness. Based on aroma alone, the bourbon suggests an age well beyond its stated years.

The palate begins with soy sauce residue and graham cracker crumbs. Midway through, thawed frozen strawberries and Honey Smacks cereal enter the picture. The texture leans dry, with tannins that remain enjoyable rather than excessive. The closing moments introduce a brief hint of fresh mint, followed by almond M&M’s. As it fades, roasted sweet potatoes and charred grill marks bring the experience to a close.

This is a bottle I admire, even though it carries more oak influence than I typically seek out. For drinkers who appreciate a well-done oak-driven profile, this release is likely to impress, especially given that it clocks in at just under 8.5 years of age. The wood influence is pronounced, yet the tannins stay in balance with the surrounding flavors. Considering both proof and price, it stands out as a great value. 121 proof. A- / $95

Two Souls Double Barreled Bourbon “Pro Bear Rasslin’” 5 Years Old Review

This stands as one of the most unusual and peculiar releases to surface from an American independent bottler in 2025, and arguably one of the most interesting bottlings of the year in any category. Pro Bear Rasslin’ is a joint effort between Two Souls Spirits and Manifest Distilling of Jacksonville, Florida. Two Souls notes that the barrel is tied to an “iconic” national brewery, stopping short of a direct disclosure, though the clues are anything but subtle. The designation Barrel No. PBR1, combined with the initials spelled out by Pro Bear Rasslin’, makes the association difficult to miss.

The label states that the bourbon was distilled by an unnamed distillery in Michigan. While Pabst Blue Ribbon beer originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is now brewed under contract at multiple facilities nationwide, Pabst Brewing partnered with New Holland Spirits in Holland, Michigan to release Pabst Blue Ribbon Whiskey in 2019. Two Souls confirms that the mashbill here consists of 52% corn, 27% malted barley, 17% wheat, and 4% rye, identical to the openly disclosed mashbill used for Pabst Blue Ribbon Whiskey.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Whiskey is described as being “aged for five seconds” in used cooperage, leaving it clear and ineligible for the bourbon designation. Evidence here suggests that at least a portion of that same distillate found its way into new charred oak, specifically a barrel with a #4 char and a barrel entry proof of 120. The barrel was filled at Manifest Distilling on January 15, 2020, then transferred to J. Henry & Sons in Dane, Wisconsin in February 2024 to continue maturation. On May 15, 2025, the bourbon was moved into a secondary barrel that previously held Two Souls’ “Road’s End” Wisconsin Straight Bourbon, with a barrel entry proof of 130. Barrel #20-0003 was bottled on September 26, 2025, after a total maturation period of 5 years, 8 months, and 11 days.

The aroma opens with brooding prune juice and a brief note of tannic, burnt cardboard. That fleeting sharpness quickly gives way to spiced banana bread and blackstrap molasses. Given that the spirit spent roughly 5 years in new oak before the secondary cask, the influence of the finishing barrel is unquestioned, yet entirely beneficial. The bouquet carries weight from start to finish.

The palate begins with espresso and a generous pour of cherry cola. As the sip progresses, lightly sweetened Kix cereal and mild tobacco make an appearance. The mouthfeel is dense and hefty, aligning perfectly with the concentration of flavor on display. The closing sequence introduces cream soda and intense dark chocolate, followed by Luxardo cherry syrup and gingerbread as the final word.

I approached this bottle with some hesitation, shaped by prior impressions of Pabst Blue Ribbon Whiskey as a clear, underdeveloped spirit. Any such reservations proved entirely misplaced. This is outstanding bourbon by any measure. The experience leaves me hoping that more of this distillate has found its way into new charred oak, because the results speak for themselves. I have tasted many excellent bourbons in this age range, yet few deliver this level of concentration and personality. Releases like this highlight exactly why independent bottlers matter, and why their best work can be truly exceptional. 130.4 proof. A / $80

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