You gotta try Long Road Distillers

18 Washington Ave., Grand Haven | 616-414-7797 | longroaddistillers.com

On a summery day in May, I went up to Grand Haven with a friend to check out Long Road Distillers — it was the perfect afternoon to dine outside. I’d been to Long Road’s original location in Grand Rapids before, but it was my first time checking out its downtown Grand Haven space.

Long Road Distillers handcrafts all of its spirits using West Michigan’s natural and agricultural resources, and it takes no shortcuts. The distillery takes the road that many avoid, crafting its spirits over time to create some award-winning products. Its spirits lineup includes vodka, gin, aquavit, rum, brandy, whisky, bourbon and flavored liqueurs, among others. Long Road also produces three canned cocktails: Gin & Tonic, Polish Falcon and Teta’s Lemonade. 

I ordered the rosé slushie and the hot chicken sandwich — a perfect combo if you ask me. My friend had the fish and chips and the rum punch on draft; she had no complaints. Both cocktails were nice and refreshing for a hot summer day; it was a nice stop to visit after walking along the beach at Grand Haven State Park.

Long Road also has a location in Charlevoix and recently opened a fourth space in Cadillac. I’m already looking forward to going back to try another one of the distillery’s crafty cocktails — if you’re looking for a nice place to dig into some comfort food and enjoy the natural beauty of the lakeshore, Long Road is the way to go.