Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Lahalih
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was really starting to get into bourbon about 8 years ago after slowly switching from Scotch. I really enjoyed the sweetness, complexity along with all the nuances that go into producing the spirit i.e aging process, barrel selection, grain make-up etc…. One of my best friends from college lived in Chicago and would find hard to find bottles and ship them to me and I did the same for him, During that time we thought it would be great to go to Kentucky, visit a few distilleries, and try and pick out a favorite barrel or two and bottle it as Michael and John’s Private Selection. Because of the bourbon craze many distilleries were not allowing for individuals to have a barrel pick but would rather only sell them to retail stores and bourbon clubs. During those trips to Kentucky however we met a number of key people that later became part of our amazing team today. I would have to say every encounter during that time was very serendipitous. From meeting our consultant aka our Sherpa to being introduced to our master Blender Ashley Barnes at the exact moment she departed Four Roses decided to work freelance. Once we realized we could connect the dots, we decided to launch a very small craft bourbon brand and we named it Lucky 7. Even the name came to me after flipping through tv channels one evening and I came across the movie Casablanca. I watched the movie form beginning to end and afterward stared Googling facts about the movie. I came a cross an article about the infamous Stage 7 in Hollywood and how so many films that came out of Stage 7 were nominated for Oscars including Casablanca. The stage became so famous the industry just started to call it Lucky Stage 7 and later Lucky 7.
After we produced out first batch which was a small run of only 10 barrels we decided to enter it into a few spirits competition. We entered 2 expressions that year and both took Double Gold medals. Word quickly spread about the accolades and before long retailers were call to carry the brand. Our first big break were the good people at Binny’s in Chicago. Once we were in those stores it seemed many other retailers followed suit. Before long were growing rapidly and organically into may different states.
Then something called COVID-19 began to take affect of the country. In the beginning things were dead silent as everyone was bracing for impact but before long sales began to skyrocket. We struggled to keep inventory available and had a difficult time ordering raw materials i.e. bottles, corks, labels etc…due to the shipping delays. We did weather the storm and learned many valuable lessons along the way.
We currently offer 5 different bourbon expressions, have dozens of Gold medals, and will be entering our 20th market this month. Any guess on which market? That’s right we’re finally launching state-wide in California with plans on entering into 10 more in Q1 of next year. Lucky 7 has excellent name recognition is known for being a highly awarded premium bourbon and we couldn’t be more prouder of what 2 dudes from the University of Illinois (Chicago Campus) was able to accomplish.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all a smooth road. We really had no idea what were getting into. While the romance of owning a bourbon brand is appealing the amount of planning, strategizing is overbearing at times. Having launched in the heart of COVID, it really put us into a whirlwind and with the lack of experience it was extremely hard to grasp hold of everything and guide it to success. With the expert help from our partners at Monica Wolf and Ashley Barnes we were ale to persevere and become what we are today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Lucky Seven Spirits. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lucky Seven Spirits is a non-distilling producer (NDP) of premium Kentucky Bourbon. We pride ourselves by sourcing the best Kentucky Bourbon on the market and blending it into a number of different bourbon expressions. Our partners are deeply rooted in Kentucky and are the reason why we produce such highly awarded and sought after bourbon. While we’re still a tiny brand compared to some of the lager ones on the market, what makes us special is our team of highly talented and professional team. By remaining small, we have the bandwith to pay extremely close attention to everything that we bottle and gives us the ability to easily pivot according to market demands. If theres a hot new barrel finish, we easily have the ability to produce something similar. If something isn’t working like thought we can easily discontinue that product. All that flexibility is what makes us a respected craft bourbon.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I would have say the list is probably too long to mention. The first person we would have to thank is no longer with us unfortunately. His name is Richard Wolf and he was a highly respected and influential gentleman in Kentucky and the spirits world. For some reason he took a liking to me and JP and we quickly became dear friends and business partners. He’s the reason we met his daughter Monica Wolf and our Master Blender Ashley Barnes. He gave us validity when we had none and believed in us and supported us all the until the bitter end. Being a Kentucky Colonel we’d often joke around and try to have a fake Kentucky accent to make him laugh and tell him we’re going to sell Lucky 7 for ……$1 Millions Dollars!!! a Dr. Evil quote from Austin Powers…he didn’t get that humor and just kinda stare at us confused…. RW is a legend and we are deeply honored and grateful to have been able be his friend and business partners.
After Richard of course there’s monica Wolf and Ashley Barnes whom without there guidance and expertice we wouldn’t be here today. There’s also our wives that had to ‘be happy” for us when we told them we’re starting a bourbon brand. Without the countless days of watching our kids while I was in Kentucky or at a market visit or conducting “R&D” (drinking), I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off,
Lastly I have to thank my 2 boys who know more about whiskey than any 7 and 10 year old should know. They’re always coming up with new blends or new merch that I often take into consideration. They’re huge promoters of the brand lol…
Pricing:
- The Workhorse 97 proof Small Batch $49.99
- The Hold Up 9 Year 100 proof Small Batch
- The Holiday Toast (Toasted Double Oak) $69.99
- The Frenchman (Toasted French Oak) $69.99
- The New Yorker (Toasted Amburana Cask) $69.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.luckysevenspirits.com
- Instagram: @lucky7bourbon
- Facebook: @lucky7bourbon
Image Credits
Cameron Oden
