Co-owner, Co-founder, Long Road Distillers
Age: 38
In a career built around the ethos of not taking shortcuts, Kyle Van Strien has carved out a path to success, both personally and for the Grand Rapids-based craft distillery he co-founded and co-owns.
Van Strien has led the charge into a successful new product category for Long Road Distillers, which operates a flagship distillery and restaurant on Grand Rapids’ west side and the Less Traveled cocktail bar in the city’s East Hills neighborhood, plus a satellite tasting room in downtown Grand Haven.
After launching a line of three spirits-based ready-to-drink canned beverages into statewide distribution in February, Long Road exceeded its sales goal for all of 2023 by the end of the second quarter, with no signs of a slowdown in sight.
“This is the fastest-growing adult beverage category in the country, and we consider ourselves to be on the leading edge of what’s to come,” he said, noting the products are all based on popular cocktails Long Road has served at its bars.
As a “driving force” behind Long Road, Van Strien also has relished in the numerous accolades that the company has received since its founding, including dozens of awards praising the quality of the distillery’s products.
“These honors are a testament to our dedication to doing things the right way, without taking shortcuts, and to the tremendous agricultural resources we have available to us in West Michigan,” he said.
Outside of the distillery, Van Strien remains active in local government, having served as chairman of the Grand Rapids City Planning Commission since 2012.
— Joe Boomgaard | Photography by Justin Razmus
