Long Road Distillers to Celebrate Five-Year Anniversary with Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Release

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Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers will celebrate their fifth anniversary this weekend with a limited release of a brand-new offering, Long Road Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whisky.

“Obviously, we never expected to celebrate our five-year anniversary under the circumstances we find ourselves in,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers. “All of our locations are closed to dine-in service, and we’ve been producing more hand sanitizer over the past 8 weeks than craft spirits. We can’t throw the party this birthday deserves, but we’re grateful for the opportunity to still offer take-out service of spirits, cocktail kits and food.”

Unique environment aside, the distillery wanted to mark the anniversary with something special. The Bottled-In-Bond designation is a significant milestone in the life of a distillery, and carries with it certain requirements that go above and beyond the average bourbon.

A bottled-in-bond whisky must be distilled in a single distilling season for a single distillery, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least 4 years, and bottled at 100 proof. All these requirements were established by the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897. As the label on Long Road’s Bottled-In-Bond expression calls out, this bourbon is quite literally “Bottled-In-Bond Under U.S. Government Supervision”.

Only a single barrel of Long Road Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon will be available this week, less than 180 bottles in total.

Since Governor Whitmer issued an Executive Order on March 16 to shut down dining rooms of bars and restaurants, the team at Long Road Distillers has shifted gears to produce hand sanitizer and to offer take-out of Cocktail Kits, craft spirits, and more recently food from their Grand Rapids kitchen.

Orders for Long Road Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon and a variety of other spirits and kits can be placed through the Take-Out section of the company’s website www.LongRoadDistillers.com, and picked up at any of their three tasting room locations this weekend. A full list of days and hours of operation are available on the site.

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Long Road Distillers Partners with Michigan Breweries to Produce Hand Sanitizer

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Over the course of the last month, Long Road Distillers has shifted from producing Michigan-made craft spirits to Michigan-made hand sanitizer in order to help meet the tremendous needs of the community during the current outbreak. To help speed up the process, the Grand Rapids distillery has partnered with several Michigan breweries to provide beer that can be distilled and converted into ethyl alcohol, the primary ingredient in hand sanitizer.

“We have all of the equipment on site to produce hand sanitizer from scratch,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner of Long Road Distillers. “Our two large stills allow us to take fermented grain or fruit and turn it into 190 proof neutral spirit, much like we do in the process of producing our vodka.”

For Long Road, the pinch point in speeding up production is fermentation capacity. To overcome that roadblock, they are now working with several Michigan breweries who are providing beer that can be run through the still. To date, Long Road has partnered with The Mitten Brewing Company, Founders Brewing Company, Perrin Brewing Company and Shorts Brewing Company. Some of the beer had been kegged for restaurant use, while some was brewed by the companies specifically for the purpose of distilling into sanitizer.

“The craft beverage world has always been about creativity, excellence and service,” said Chris Andrus, co-owner of The Mitten Brewing Company. “This effort is just a natural extension of that; quickly working together to solve problems and meet a need in our community.”

So far, Long Road Distillers has worked with nearly 300 health care providers, nursing homes, grocers, social service agencies and other essential businesses to provide sanitizer to keep patients, residents, employees and customers safe. Their ability to offer this is due in large part to those who have come to the support of the distillery at this time.

“We’re fortunate to have such a collaborative beverage community in Michigan!” exclaimed Kyle VanStrien, co-owner of Long Road Distillers. “The willingness of our friends to step up and help us in this effort has certainly been one of the brightest silver linings during these difficult days.”

Long Road Hand Sanitizer is available for purchase in individual spray bottles and in bulk refill jugs, with primary focus given to front-line providers and essential businesses and their employees at this time. Interested organizations may submit inquiries about procuring sanitizer through Long Road’s website: www.LongRoadDistillers.com/handsanitizer/

A limited number of individual spray bottles are being sold to the public through the distillery’s weekly take-out service, and orders must be placed in advance through the takeout link on their website. Pick-up of sanitizer, as well as cocktail kits and bottles-to-go are offered Thursdays (12-5p) and Fridays (12-6p) in Grand Rapids, and Saturdays (10a-2p) from their Grand Haven location. Long Road Hand Sanitizer can also be found at several local retailers.

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Long Road Distillers Set to Release Batch No. 4 of Award-Winning Gin

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Limited-release Long Road MICHIGIN® will be available at the distillery and statewide November 14

Grand Rapids, Michigan – Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers will release Batch No. 4 of their award-winning MICHIGIN® on Thursday, November 14 when their doors open at 4 pm. The gin is crafted from 100% Michigan ingredients, including red winter wheat grown by Heffron Farms in Belding, and juniper hand-harvested on Beaver Island.

In 2017, MICHIGIN® was named the “Best Gin in the World” and awarded a Double Gold Medal at the Fifty Best Competition in New York City. Ever since, the Michigan-made spirit has been highly sought after and one of the distillery’s most popular products. Each batch is eagerly anticipated not only by visitors of the distillery, but by retailers and bars throughout Michigan.

“Crafting MICHIGIN® is such an important part of who we are as a distillery” says Kyle VanStrien, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road. “The adventure of making this product from scratch is the epitome of what we’re all about – creating products that are world-class and doing it the right way, all while using locally sourced ingredients.”

The gin’s base spirit is distilled from red winter wheat from nearby Heffron Farms in Belding, Michigan that was milled on site at the distillery on Grand Rapids’ West Side. It has been redistilled with a variety of Michigan botanicals, including Beaver Island juniper, lemon verbena, spearmint and fennel from Visser Farms in Zeeland, and Galena hops from the Michigan Hop Alliance in Northport. The resulting gin is unlike any other and offers a clean, fresh taste of Michigan from start to finish.

Juniper is commonly sourced through purveyors from Europe or the Pacific Northwest, however it also grows native throughout parts of Michigan. For the past four years, the Long Road team has traveled to Beaver Island, approximately 30 miles northwest of Charlevoix, to hand harvest juniper berries that grow in abundance there. Despite the extra work that goes into producing MICHIGIN®, the distillery insists the resulting gin and the connection to Michigan farmers and Beaver Island make it all worthwhile.

“By harvesting our own juniper and working with local farmers to produce MICHIGIN®, we’re able to create something with a uniquely Michigan terroir,” says Kyle Shutz, Long Road’s Head Distiller. “Each year, the recipe is fine-tuned to more fully represent what we love about our State.”

MICHIGIN®, initially, has the familiar aroma of fresh pine and juniper berries, but quickly transitions into scents of cucumber, cedar, and tropical fruits. The rich juniper flavor leads the way at first taste and gradually shifts to notes of melon, vanilla, and hints of bright citrus and mint. It’s sure to please in a gin cocktail, on the rocks, or all by itself.

On Thursday, November 14, the distillery is hosting a MICHIGIN® Release Event at their Grand Rapids location to celebrate the new batch. From 4 pm to midnight, guests will be able to enjoy $5 MICHIGIN cocktails and have their first opportunity to purchase bottles of Long Road MICHIGIN® Batch No. 4 to take home.

Long Road is also hosting three complimentary MICHIGIN® Experience Tour & Tastings, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at the making of MICHIGIN® and a sampling of three unique batches: Batch No. 3, Batch No. 4 and Batch No. 2 Barrel Reserve. To participate, guests are encouraged to reserve a complimentary ticket for one of the offered tour times – 6, 7 or 8 pm – online.

In addition to the distillery’s three tasting room locations (Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Boyne City), Long Road MICHIGIN® is also available in statewide distribution for licensed retailers, bars and restaurants through Imperial Beverage Company, who distributes Long Road’s portfolio of spirits.

For more information about Long Road Distillers or to find out how you can get your hands on MICHIGIN®, please visit: www.longroaddistillers.com.

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Long Road Distillers Set to Release Long Road Absinthe on Halloween

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Release night specials include half-off samples and featured cocktails

Grand Rapids, Michigan – On Thursday, October 31, Long Road Distillers will release their much-anticipated Long Road Grand Absinthe. The release of this bright green spirit falls on Halloween and will include release night specials like half-off sample pours and featured spooky cocktails.

Absinthe has a long and complicated history, and until recently was banned for sale and consumption in many countries, including the United States. The wormwood infused spirit was once thought to cause hallucinations and other negative side effects. However, myths were dispelled over time, and the ban on absinthe was lifted in the U.S. in 2007.

“We’re excited to bring another unique product to the table,” said Long Road co-owner and co-founder Jon O’Connor. “Long Road Grand Absinthe is perfect in a Sazerac and other classic cocktails, or as an absinthe drip with ice cold water and a sugar cube.”

In addition to wormwood, Long Road Absinthe is made with fennel, star anise, sage and over a dozen other botanicals. The resulting spirit has the aroma and initial taste of herbal black licorice, with a long, complex finish. It is bottled at 125 proof and will retail for $50.00 per 750ml bottle.

Thursday’s release will take place at both the Long Road Grand Rapids and Grand Haven tasting rooms and will begin at 4 pm. Guests can enjoy half-off samples and featured cocktails as well as purchase a bottle or two to bring home for the first time.

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Long Road Distillers Named Best Brandy Distillery in the U.S. – Will Release Latest Batch of Apple Brandy Monday, October 14

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Read more
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PRESS RELEASE: Long Road Distillers Set to Release Whisky Made in Collaboration with Brewery Vivant

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Grand Rapids, Michigan – On Thursday, September 26, Grand Rapids craft distillery Long Road Distillers will release Vivant Big Red Coq Malt Whisky made in partnership with Brewery Vivant. This is the fifth release of the Long Road Beer City Whisky Series, a line-up of whiskies collaboratively made with local breweries who have helped earn Grand Rapids the title of “Beer City USA”. Vivant Big Red Coq Malt Whisky is distilled from the same mash as Big Red Coq Red IPA, a flagship beer from the Grand Rapids-based brewery.

“We’re excited for people to try out this latest collaborative release,” said Kyle VanStrien, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers. “Brewery Vivant has always been one of our favorite local brewers and they create some of the most unique and enjoyable beers around. We think this beer-turned-whisky is the perfect representation of their craftsmanship in spirit form.”

Grand Rapids has won the title of “Beer City USA” for several years running, and has also been named “Best Beer Town” and “Best Beer Scene” by USA TODAY readers. These titles are an acknowledgement of the many world-class breweries that call Grand Rapids home, but also a nod to the passionate beer lovers that support them.

The idea behind the Beer City Whisky Series stemmed from shared base ingredients between beer and whisky – namely, malted barley. To create the whiskies in this ongoing series, Long Road acquires brewers mash from local breweries and distills it into malt whisky on their 500 gallon Vendome Pot Still. After each beer is distilled into whisky, it is aged in new American Oak barrels for 12-24 months.

So far, Long Road Distillers has partnered with five Grand Rapids breweries for the Beer City Whisky Series and distilled some of their most popular beers: The Mitten Brewing Company (Mitten Country Strong IPA), Perrin Brewing Company (Perrin Black), Harmony Brewing Company/Harmony Hall (Harmony Black Squirrel Peated Porter), Greyline Brewing Company (Greyline Solshine), and Brewery Vivant (Big Red Coq Red IPA). A sixth release in the series is coming in late October, made in partnership with Creston Brewing Company.

Each whisky is released in-house at the distillery’s Grand Rapids tasting room in extremely small batches ranging from 100 to 200 bottles per batch.

Vivant Big Red Coq Malt Whisky will be released on Thursday, September 26 beginning at 4 pm at the distillery on Leonard Street.

In addition to having Vivant Big Red Coq Malt Whisky available for tastes, cocktails, and bottles to take home on Thursday, the culinary teams at Long Road and Brewery Vivant have put their heads together to create unique food pairings to enjoy alongside the whisky and drinks. The goal for the night is to have fun, but also to raise awareness about the collaborative spirit that exists in West Michigan.

Event details and menu descriptions can be found at www.longroaddistillers.com.

“We owe a lot of credit to the craft beer community for leading the way in elevating consumer expectations when it comes to quality, flavors, and a deeper understanding of how products are made and who is making them,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers. “This project continues to give us the opportunity to work more closely with our friends and peers in the craft beverage industry who share a deep commitment for doing things the right way – and we’re confident it shows in this whisky!”

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Vegan Course:
Open Faced Sandwich with Whole Grain Bread, Mushrooms, Carrot, Candy Beets, Radish, Whiskey Coq Vinaigrette, Squash Puree, Romesco

Bison Course:
Smoked Bison Sausage made with Big Red Coq, Confit White Potatoes w/ Rosemary oil, Roasted blend of Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Fall Squash Char-Grilled Carrots

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Michigan’s Long Road Distillers Nominated as Best Distillery in the United States

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Local distillery faces tough competition in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards Contests

Grand Rapids distillery, Long Road Distillers, has been nominated as the Best Distillery in the country in multiple categories as part of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. The company has been nominated as the “Best Craft Specialty Spirits Distillery”, “Best Craft Gin Distillery”, “Best Craft Vodka Distillery”, and “Best Craft Brandy Distillery” for 2019. This marks the third year that Long Road was nominated in the “Best Craft Specialty Spirits Distillery” category.

Over their four-year history the distillery has gained lots of attention for their award-winning, locally-sourced and craft-distilled line-up of spirits, including gins, vodkas, aquavits, and whiskies.

The public will choose the winners by casting votes on 10best.com/awards. Each person may vote for their favorites once per day until Monday, September 23. Winners will be announced on October 4.

VOTE HERE:
– Best Craft Specialty Spirits Distillery
– Best Craft Gin Distillery
– Best Craft Vodka Distillery
– Best Craft Brandy Distillery

Long Road Distillers is one of 20 nominees, in each category, from around the country that were carefully chosen by a panel of American spirits experts. The nominating panel includes Wayne Curtis, renowned spirits and cocktail author of books including “And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails”, Brian Christensen, publisher and editor of Artisan Spirit Magazine, Ziggy Eschliman, founder of ZigStyle and award-winning radio host, Kevin Gray, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Bevvy, Eric Grossman, a food and beverage writer and author of Craft Spirits, and Jack Robertiello, a writer and acclaimed wine and spirits judge.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive nominations in multiple categories this year,” said Kyle VanStrien, co-owner and founder of Long Road Distillers. “As we continue to expand our portfolio with new, exciting spirits, it’s affirming to receive accolades and honors on a national and international scale. We have a ton of respect for every nominee on each of these lists, as some have been leaders in our industry for years. To even have the chance to compete is a big deal for us.”

The distillery is quick to admit how these awards are different from many other competitions, and that they will be relying on their loyal supporters and the community in West Michigan to help them top the list of winners.

“Unlike some competitions where the judging takes place behind closed doors, this contest puts the power in the hands of those that enjoy our spirits and have supported us over the past several years,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner and founder of Long Road Distillers. “We’re humbled by this nomination and hopeful that we can spread the word far and wide to take home several new honors for Grand Rapids!”

Long Road’s no-shortcuts approach to crafting spirits and a dedication to using locally sourced ingredients has earned them numerous honors and awards, as well as international acclaim for some lesser-known spirits categories, such as Aquavit. Their spirits can be found at the distillery on Grand Rapids’ West Side, at tasting rooms in Grand Haven and Boyne City, and at over 1,750 retailers, bars, and restaurants throughout the state of Michigan.

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Saveur Magazine: THE 10 BEST AMERICAN AMARO BOTTLES TO DRINK RIGHT NOW

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U.S. distillers are creating a splash with their own versions of the bitter Italian liqueur. Here, a guide to the best American-made amari

Published on Saveur.com BY LAURA ITZKOWITZ MAY 17, 2019

When Amor y Amargo opened in 2011 in New York’s East Village, there was only one amaro produced in the U.S. on its shelves. Now there are more than 20, though Sother Teague, the bar’s founder and New York City’s resident amaro expert, says the American amaro scene is “still incubating,” so more bottles are bound to come out of the woodwork.

The rise in domestically produced amaro is, at least in part, correlated to an increased interest among consumers in amaro (plural: amari), the category of bittersweet liqueur originally produced in Italy. And though the Italian giants like Campari and Aperol still dominate backbars across the country, a number of craft distilleries that were already making vodka, whiskey, and other spirits right here in the U.S. are adding an amaro to their portfolio. There are even some distillers that started out expressly producing amaro, even if they have since added other liqueurs to their range.

“Whatever was being produced was just being consumed by the maker or the neighborhood, which is how it starts all over the world,” says Teague, explaining why he’s got so many more domestic amari on his shelves now than he did in 2011. Now that they’re becoming more available, America is going through a bit of an amaro craze, and Teague is one of its most vocal champions. At Amor y Amargo, he pours the products that he likes best, and distillers send him their bottles with the hopes of getting them on his shelves.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about amaro is that each one is so unique that almost everybody can find a type that suits them. While American distillers are using some less traditional ingredients like coffee or hibiscus, Teague believes there’s no fundamental difference between Italian amari and American ones, since they’re so hard to define in the first place. “Overwhelmingly, even American amari try to stick to the traditional thinking and methodology,” he says, alluding to the rich history of sourcing local botanicals for amari, and creating a taste of place. “Each one of these is trying to do things with stuff from where they’re at.”

While the American amaro market continues to grow, there are already a few available that are the best of the best. Here are the 10 American amari Teague recommends seeking out right now.

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The Coffee-Tinged Amari

Teague sees these as a great alternative to saccharine coffee liqueurs like Kahlúa and Tia Maria. Both amari are made using local coffee. Amaro Pazzo—which translates to “crazy bitter” in Italian—is produced by Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The base spirit is distilled on-site, where they also make vodka, gin, whiskey, and a few other spirits and cordials. It’s infused with wormwood, gentian, chicory, orange peel, and several other botanicals, and then blended with coffee by Madcap Coffee Company.

Bartender and distiller Ryan Maybee revived Kansas City whiskey—a type of whiskey that died out during Prohibition—and named his distillery J. Rieger & Co. after the family that used to make it in the early 1900s. He recently teamed up with Kansas City coffee brewers Thou Mayest to create Caffè Amaro, which Maybee ages in his old whiskey barrels.

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Grand Haven Tribune: Distillery approved – ‘I’m glad you didn’t give up on us’

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ALEXANDER SINN • MAR 19, 2019

There was little fanfare Monday night as the Grand Haven City Council voted to allow Long Road Distillers to set up shop in town.

The approval of a tasting room at 102 Washington Ave. came after the council earlier this month rejected the Grand Rapids-based distillery’s proposal for a similar venue at the city’s train depot building near the waterfront.

Instead, Long Road will open a Grand Haven location as part of the space currently occupied by the Copper Post bar and restaurant.

For months, Long Road owners Kyle Van Strien and Jon O’Connor attempted to win over city officials with their plan for the depot, but Mayor Geri McCaleb and Councilman Dennis Scott disapproved of bringing an alcohol-serving establishment to the waterfront, due to the depot’s proximity to family-oriented activities at the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium.

Van Strien and O’Connor attended Monday’s meeting but declined to share comment to the council on the new project. Van Strien said he was disappointed with the city’s process for selecting a depot tenant, which the Long Road owners pursued for its historic nature and waterfront locale.

Council members thanked the business owners for not abandoning their quest to come to Grand Haven.

Councilman Josh Brugger said the city was able to expedite the approval process, placing both a public hearing and liquor license approval on Monday’s agenda.

“I’m glad you didn’t give up on us,” Councilman Bob Monetza said.

Monetza’s thoughts were echoed by both the mayor and Scott as the council approved the liquor license 5-0.

Van Strien said the plans for the Washington Avenue venue will be similar to the proposal for the depot, with an emphasis on cocktails and retail. He said the site is at a crossroads in the downtown between restaurants and retail, and will straddle both markets.

There are currently no plans to build a kitchen in the space, Van Strien said, and food options may be limited upon opening. Long Road and Copper Post will remain separate entities, he added.

After Long Road was rejected for the depot space, Van Strien said numerous property owners in and out of Grand Haven approached him and his partner with offers — none of them public listings.

Long Road also has a tasting room in Boyne City, and Van Strien said coming to Grand Haven and other Lakeshore locations are not “mutually exclusive.”

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MiBiz: Long Road Distillers plan Grand Haven tasting room

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BY SYDNEY SMITH & JOE BOOMGAARDTuesday, March 19, 2019 04:53pm

GRAND HAVEN — Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers LLC hopes to open a new satellite tasting room on the lakeshore.

Long Road Distillers plans to move forward with an offsite tasting room at 102 Washington Ave. after the Grand Haven City Council voted unanimously in favor of supporting the company’s request for a tasting room license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

The move comes just days after the body rejected the company’s plans to open a tasting room in the city’s historic former train station.

In a text message to MiBiz, co-owner Jon O’Connor said the Washington Avenue location “looks like a good path moving forward” for the distillery, although he acknowledged there were “still some hurdles” the company needs to overcome.

The initial plans call for a 1,000-square-foot tasting room, he said. The company also hopes to add outdoor seating.

If the Grand Haven plans come to fruition, the tasting room will be the second for Long Road, which also operates a tasting room in Boyne City. The distillery has a full-service bar and restaurant at its main Grand Rapids operations.

“The Long Road team is thrilled to join the Grand Haven community,” Kyle VanStrien, Long Road co-founder and co-owner, said in a statement. “We’ve been working to secure a location in or around downtown for nearly two years, and we’re excited to now find ourselves in the heart of the retail and entertainment district of the city.”

An official opening date has not been announced, though Long Road expects to begin the hiring process soon.

Changes enacted last year to the state liquor control code allow distilleries to serve full pours and cocktails at their tasting rooms, where they had only been allowed to offer samples in the past, as MiBiz previously reported.

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