Local Distillery Recognized at International Spirits Competition; Awarded Best In Show
By: Marina Kennedy Mar. 23, 2016
The first distillery to call Grand Rapids home, Long Road Distillers, announced today their international awards at the 2016 Denver International Spirits Competition. The West Michigan distillery was evaluated among over 200 applicants and was awarded the Best in Show, double gold, a silver medal and two bronze medals. The Best in Show category recognized Long Road Aquavit as the finest product in the entire competition when compared across categories.
The Best in Show award, which tied with Dewar's 1846 Signature Scotch Whiskey, is Long Road Distillers' Aquavit which is a staple of Scandinavian culture, often found at festive gatherings. Embracing time-honored distillation methods, Long Road distillers crafts an Aquavit that's made in Michigan yet true to its Northern European roots.
"From the beginning it was our goal to make the best spirits in the world right here in Grand Rapids," said Kyle Van Strien, co-owner at Long Road Distillers. "For us to tie for Best in Show with Dewar's 1846 Signature Scotch Whiskey, which retails at $199 is unbelievable. We are happy to see so much growth so quickly and are proud to let the quality of our products speak for themselves through these awards."
The full list of awards received at the 2016 Denver International Spirits Competition were:
- Double Gold; Best in Show - Long Road Aquavit
- Silver Medalist - Vodka (Made from Wheat): Long Road Original Vodka
- Bronze Medalist - Vodka Flavored/Infused: Long Road Wendy Peppercorn
- Bronze Medalist - Gin Dry: Long Road Gin
"We have always put an emphasis on doing things the right way at Long Road," said Jon O'Connor, co-owner at Long Road Distillers. "We have a 'no shortcuts' policy and only use the best ingredients from regionally sourced providers. Earning these awards makes that commitment to quality worthwhile."
Long Road Distillers competed alongside well known spirits such as Dewar's, Bacardi, Johnnie Walker and Jim Beam.
The 5th Annual Denver International Spirits Competition was held on March 12 & 13, 2016 at the Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, Colorado. Participants entered products within the categories of gin, rum, whisky, vodka, and other specialty spirits. The products were judged in a double blind format ranked on a 100-point scale by a prestigious panel of 20 of America's most respected spirits authorities.
For more information about Long Road Distillers please visit: http://www.longroaddistillers.com
About Long Road Distillers:
Long Road Distillers was born from the belief that making world-class spirits means never taking shortcuts along the way. After becoming the first craft distillery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Long Road Distillers formed relationships with local farmers to bring that mission to Grand Rapids' West Side neighborhood. Each spirit produced at Long Road Distillers is milled from locally sourced ingredients, fermented, and distilled on-site. The result is an uncompromised lineup of spirits including Vodka, Gin, Whisky and more. Their spirits, along with a handcrafted collection of cocktails and a wide variety of food can be enjoyed at their tasting room.
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