Grand Rapids Business Journal: Spirits maker releasing new batch of bourbon

November 30, 2018| By Ehren Wynder |
A local distillery is rolling out a limited-release spirit.

Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers will release batch No. 2 of its Straight Bourbon Whisky on Dec. 3 at the distillery, at 537 Leonard St. NW.

Statewide distribution will follow later in the week.

Long Road’s Straight Bourbon Whisky was one of the earliest products the company distilled.

Straight whiskey, by definition, must be aged at least two years in a new American oak barrel that has been charred on the inside.

Long Road’s bourbon is bottled at 93 proof, or 46.5 percent alcohol by volume.

Its mash bill consists of corn and wheat from Heffron Farms in Belding and malted barley grown along the lakeshore and malted locally.

“Good whiskey takes time,” said Jon O’Connor, co-founder and co-owner, Long Road Distillers. “We’ve patiently waited to release our second batch of straight bourbon and have carefully selected barrels from two different mash bills to blend together for a whiskey we’re proud to call our own.”

To celebrate the second iteration of Straight Bourbon Whisky, Long Road will be offering half-off tastes, pours and cocktails of the spirit, as well as the first opportunity to purchase a bottle. Specials will be available from opening at 4 p.m. until close at midnight.