![]() ![]() We just hopefully are able to buy a lot more grain from them in the future,” O’Connor said. “We’re committed to stay working with the same people we do now. in Augusta, as well as from Michigan farmers who specialize in barley, rye and other grains. Long Road regularly purchases grain from Heffron Farms in Belding and Knappen Milling Co. With this expansion, we hope to be able to at least clear a million pounds of grain processed in the first year with the potential to go well beyond that.” “Currently, we use about 400,000 pounds of Michigan-grown grain every year. It’s been a foundation of our business,” O’Connor said. “Our mission since we started Long Road has always been to utilize Michigan grain and fruit whenever possible. Long Road Distillers will more than quadruple its production capacity with the new facility and stills, which is good for the distillery as well as West Michigan’s farmers. “The next 18 months is our window to renovate the building and get it set so that when the equipment is done being fabricated, hopefully that’s the last piece of the puzzle,” he said. in Kentucky, which currently has an 18-24 month lead time.ĭespite the long wait, O’Connor is thinking about the big picture. In the interim, Long Road has put down deposits on new distillation equipment from Vendome Copper and Brass Works Inc. ![]() “Now (we’re) trying to just put all the pieces of the puzzle together on renovating an entire old building getting it ready for its next phase of life, which will hopefully support our operations for years to come,” O’Connor said. “It’s a tired old building that’s got great bones,” he said, adding that Long Road has had possession of the building since the beginning of the year and is currently in the process of designing a “forever facility” to meet its production needs. While O’Connor did not disclose the location of the new facility, he noted that the space will be near Long Road’s existing cocktail bar, restaurant and stillhouse on Grand Rapids’ west side. Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as 1 liquid gallon of spirits that is 50% alcohol at a temperature of 60 degrees.) The company produced more than 14,000 proof gallons of spirits and sold more than 3,000 cases of spirits in distribution last year, according to O’Connor. Ĭiting increased demand for its products, Long Road now is planning to “dramatically increase” production capacity. “One-hundred percent of the grain in every product we’ve ever released has been grown in Michigan,” O’Connor told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. Long Road Distillers’ existing bar and production facility at 537 Leonard St. To that end, Long Road focuses on sourcing its grain from in-state farmers and buys local ingredients whenever possible, demonstrating the ties between Michigan’s agricultural and craft beverage sectors. ![]() Keep up with all things West Michigan business. ![]()
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