March 2024 – Long Road Distillers

Local partnership brings popular modern-classic cocktail to new, convenient heights.

Long Road Distillers and Madcap Coffee Company, both headquartered in Grand Rapids, have again collaborated to develop a product that marries what they do best – spirits and coffee. The Long Road Nitro Espresso Martini, a ready-to-drink canned cocktail, is now popping up on retail store shelves and in bar coolers around the state of Michigan. The new release features Long Road Vodka, Madcap Coffee, and Amaro Pazzo.

Long Road Distillers and Madcap Coffee previously partnered to create Amaro Pazzo, a traditional Italian-style bittersweet liqueur that features Madcap’s Eureka coffee blend as a primary ingredient. It is available in bottled form throughout Michigan, including at Long Road tasting rooms in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven.

The owners of Long Road consider the Nitro Espresso Martini to be another step in the evolution of a modern-classic cocktail that dates back to the 1980’s and is experiencing a renaissance in popularity. Famed British bartender Dick Bradsell is credited with creating the first iteration of the vodka-espresso combo when he was asked by a patron to make them a cocktail to “wake me up and [get me buzzed].” The combination of vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and sugar has been riffed on behind bars ever since.

“Who doesn’t love a well-made espresso martini as a pick-me-up while out on the town?” asked Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers “But it takes a lot of effort to enjoy one when away from the bar, without an espresso machine and all the ingredients on hand,” he continued. “We’ve done all the legwork for you – creating a perfectly balanced drink, adding a dose of nitrogen for an iconic frothy head and creamy finish, all in the convenience of a can.”

The Long Road Nitro Espresso Martini is an extension of a cocktail named At Last the distillery has been running on their menus since opening Less Traveled, a cocktail bar in the East Hills Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. It was an immediate hit and continues to be one of the best-selling cocktails on the menu at all locations month after month.

To make the ready-to-drink version of the cocktail as authentic as possible, it is canned at 13% alcohol by volume, nearly the maximum for a canned cocktail in Michigan. With the introduction of caffeine and higher alcohol content, the distillery decided to package the drink in 6.8oz cans rather than the traditional 12oz format.

The Long Road Nitro Espresso Martini, as well as Long Road’s entire portfolio of ready-to-drink cocktails and bottled spirits, is being distributed throughout Michigan by Imperial Beverage. Bars, restaurants, and retailers interested in carrying Long Road products should contact their Imperial Beverage account manager for more information. Want to find a 4-pack near you? Visit longroaddistillers.com/spirit-finder for a regularly updated list of outlets for Long Road spirits.

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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 Grand Rapids and Grand Haven Tasting Rooms, and visitors can now enjoy signature craft cocktails at Less Traveled, a cocktail bar by Long Road in East Hills. For more information, visit www.LongRoadDistillers.com or find Long Road Distillers on Facebook or Instagram @longroadgr.

About Madcap Coffee:

Founded in 2008, Madcap Coffee Company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. They operate their own roastery, as well as several cafes in Michigan. Their founder, Trevor Corlett, is an award-winning, nationally recognized barista and trainer. They have been spotlighted by national media and in competition for their coffees, roasting profiles, and innovative drink recipes. For more information, visit www.madcapcoffee.com or direct inquiries to info@madcapcoffee.com.

Imagine savoring the rich vanilla, toffee and caramelized pecan notes of Long Roads’ bourbon while being enveloped in the zesty embrace of bright citrus notes and well balanced herbal tones that are found in our Orange Liqueur. This delightful fusion of flavors is exactly what you’ll experience with Long Road Distillers Orange Liqueur Cask Finished Bourbon, which has been released in limited quantities today.

**A Necessity Turned Innovation**

Long Road Distillers’ makes all of our spirits from start to finish. It is not negotiable, it is who we are. We utilize Michigan agriculture as the base of our spirits, and finish with high quality ingredients from around the world. We source ingredients, not spirits. This commitment to the Long Road is not only true for our spirits but also our cocktail bars. Everything that goes into our cocktails begins with a spirit made in our distillery or in our dedicated cocktail kitchen. It became clear early on, to excel in making exceptional cocktails, we would need a world class orange liqueur. Starting with a red winter wheat distillate, our distillers then used two different varieties of orange peel and a blend of complimentary herbs to achieve a bright citrus, slightly herbaceous and pleasing dryness to our offered orange liqueur.

**The Cask-Finished Bourbon**

But the innovation didn’t stop there. Once we aged and emptied our Straight (meaning aged a minimum of 2 years in first use white American oak barrels) Bourbon barrels, we then seasoned them with our Orange Liqueur. Finally we put the bourbon back in the same barrel to soak up the bright citrus notes of orange liqueur, to offer the finished bourbon a distinct, yet subtle nod to our orange liqueur. Just to recap.

As you sip this bourbon, you’ll be captivated by its rich, nuanced tones. Make no mistake, this spirit sips like a well-balanced bourbon, but with the addition of a distinct finish .As you exhale, and are hit with a wave of fresh orange zest that lingers on your palate, for just the right amount of time. It is like your favorite party guest, who stays for one more joke, but knows when to go home.

**Limited Edition Rarity**

Long Road Distillers Orange Liqueur Cask Finished Bourbon is a special release that promises to elevate your bourbon-drinking experience through the bright notes of our Orange Liqueur. It is our honor to release only 20 cases of this finished Bourbon, and we hope you enjoy each sip of it as much as we enjoyed making it, and drinking it.

Long Road Distillers Introduces Ready-to-Drink Espresso Martini with Madcap Coffee Co.

Beyond the Barrel With Kevin: Orange Cask Bourbon – A Citrusy Twist on Tradition

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