A Still sourced from Oberkirch-Tiergarten, Germany used in Long Road's distillery /Justin Mills
A Still sourced from Louisville, Kentucky used in Long Road's distillery /Justin Mills
Surrounded by thorny branches and needle-like leaves, these berries grow wild in ragged juniper bushes across Beaver Island off the coast of Charlevoix, where the award-winning Long Road Distillers team scoured.
Founded on the principle of taking the long road to sourcing local ingredients in Michigan, the distillery and cocktail lounge continues to thrive in the northwest community of Grand Rapids after nearly a decade in operation. Long Road expanded with a Grand Haven location in 2019 and Less Traveled, a cocktail bar on Cherry Street, in 2022.
Starting at a light green, it takes three long years for a juniper berry to ripen, developing a dark purple complexion as it matures. Often described as having a distinct pine needle-like taste, the small berry is most famous for being the key ingredient to the classic spirit, gin.
MICHIGIN, created by Kyle Van Strien and Jon O’Connor, owners of Grand Rapids' first legal distillery, was the first step along the long road to crafting a locally sourced gin without any known local juniper sources.
“They had the website and trademark for MICHIGIN, and they realized they don’t know where to find juniper berries in Michigan,” said Christopher Klapwijk, director of Marketing at Long Road Distillers.
The solution to sourcing their berries came when a family member suggested Beaver Island, where juniper bushes grow abundantly, much to the community’s dismay. Juniper bushes can be invasive and dangerous for other animals, and their thorny nature can overtake the landscape and pose a fire risk.
O’Connor and VanStrein then knocked on doors within the Beaver Island community, home to only about 600 year-round residents, seeking permission to source from their island in northern Lake Michigan.
“We are really spoiled. A lot of people have got our backs, and that means a lot,” said Klapwijk, noting that Van Strien’s and O’Connor’s involvement in the Grand Rapids community and local politics has helped build connections for the decade-old distillery. “They kind of know a guy for everything. In the past, we have asked friends and family, even on Facebook, if anyone has a heritage farm around and if they don’t mind us picking botanicals from them.”
O’Connor currently serves as a First Ward Commissioner in Grand Rapids.
The sourcing became more obscure as the distillery expanded its selection over the years. Initially distilling traditional spirits like whiskey and vodka made with Red Winter wheat of northern Michigan, creativity and community ties continued. An addition of a honey bourbon to the lineup included West Michigan-derived honey. The arrival of the Michigan Raspberry Liqueur harvested raspberries from Paloma.
“When we win, our neighbors win, our farmers win,” said Paul Leitelt, assistant distiller, when discussing the local partnerships for sourcing and distributing.
Even more eccentric, the green walnuts collected in Bryon Center serve as the central ingredient to the rich Original Nocino green walnut liqueur set to release this October. Described as “Fireball for grownups” by Klapwijk, the unique liqueur contains more complex and mature flavors along with a cinnamon taste.
“The walnuts are the most important thing. About four or five weeks ago, we went out to a farm, just local residents. No actual farm for walnuts. They just had a lot of walnut trees on their property. They let us come and harvest as many walnuts as we needed. We came back to the distillery, smashed them up and cut them open,” said Klapwijk.
Additionally, in October, the seasonally appropriate Apple Brandy aged in an old Apple Brandy cask will be released with Michigan apples. The apple brandy previously landed Long Road the number one spot on USA Today’s Best Brandy Distillery.
As canned cocktails have grown in popularity in the 2020s, Long Road met the market and began canning their own spirits and signature cocktails such as Lavender Lemonade, MICHIGIN & Soda and Rosemary Gin Fizz. The canned cocktails and bottled spirits are exclusively sold in Michigan.
The distillery took the opportunity to partner with the Grand Rapids-founded staple Madcap Coffee, developing the Nitro Espresso Martini. Following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signing of a 2023 bill allowing alcohol to be sold at college sporting events, Long Road developed Lake + Valley Lemonade in partnership with Grand Valley State University, the alma mater of both owners. First released at Lubbers Stadium for the 2024 GVSU football season, Michigan blueberries flavor the lemonade mixed with their craft vodka.
With the 10th anniversary of the Grand Rapids grand opening in May 2025, the distillery hopes to continue its place in the community and experiment with their spirits.
Tours of the Grand Rapids distillery can be booked for tastings and a distilling process presentation on Saturdays.
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