Just When You Thought The World Didn’t Need Another Distillery, Along Comes The Best One Ever.
The lift bridge is the symbol of the “Birthplace of Minnesota.” Most everywhere in Stillwater you can find a nice glass of Lift Bridge beer from the local brewery we all know and love. And while beer pairs well with a juicy burger or the Wild game, some nights require something a wee bit stronger. The brand new Lucky Guys distillery has you covered.
The “Guy” Behind Lucky Guys
Lucky Guys propietor, Guy Whitehead, is from Stillwater. However, he’s built his state-of-the-art Lucky Guys distillery across the river in Hudson, Wisconsin. If you know Whitehead, you know this guy loves his booze and a good guitar jam session. But more than anything, he is passionate about what he does. And he does it differently.
When talking recently with Whitehead he shared a glimpse into how he approaches things. “I’ve talked to a lot of people in this business and they’ll say to me, I love what I do except for the customers,” said Whitehead. “And it’s funny, because the customers are the reason I do what I do. This is a passion project. Creating something from raw materials with my own hands that people really enjoy is something I love.”
Each spirit is handcrafted by the hands of Lucky Guys distillery. They make each spirit from scratch from locally grown ingredients. Nothing says the Midwest like a local family business. And if you’re looking for variety, you’ve come to the right spot as Lucky Guys offers several different spirits including bourbon, vodka, gin, and more.
The name Lucky Guys is not intended to involve Whitehead’s first name, but to include his vision and family. “A good friend of mine, Kevin Johnson, said over the last 10-15 years that I’m the ‘luckiest guy he’s ever met,’” said Whitehead. Lucky Guys embraced this in their design motif using symbols like the rabbit and horseshoe throughout. The logo came easy but for the name, the “Guys,” is not just for Guy. “He [patent attorney] suggested I use ‘Guys’ in the name because I have 3 sons,” Whitehead said. “I agreed, and the name was established.”
Roaring ‘20s on the River
Ultimately what makes a distillery stick is what’s in the bottle, but it’s worth noting that the experience of a visit to Lucky Guys is far different than most visits to a distillery or brewery. Unlike the dozens of breweries that have popped up around town, many in unattractive parking lots—Lucky Guys distillery isn’t just another box to tick on your next bicycle ride. Quite the contrary, a visit to Lucky Guys distillery has more in common with one of Jay Gatsby’s parties, or maybe a visit to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hotel. “I think we were over budget just on chandeliers alone,” joked Whitehead. Yes, the Lucky Guys distillery is the sort of environment you’re just as likely to bump into someone in a white tuxedo or bowtie as a beard and t-shirt. And that’s not to say you won’t be comfortable at Lucky Guys, as their location is ideal boasting great views of the St. Croix from upstairs and an oversized deck. “It’s the sort of place you can have a fancy night out, or let your hair down,” Whitehead explained. We’d expect nothing less from the guy who had the genius idea to put a lucky rabbit’s foot on every bottle of Lucky Guys spirits (Note: no need to call PETA, the rabbits’ feet aren’t real!)
Spirits Made from Scratch, Made For Each Other
The proof is in the barrel. Each Lucky Guys spirit not only caters to different cocktails and different preferences of the drinker, but they are all made from the same ingredient set. While it might not remain this way as Whitehead expands, this continuity allows each spirit to reflect each other. Just a few of the many flavor profiles you can experience with Lucky Guys distilled spirits are as follows:
Bourbon Whiskey
If Whitehead himself was to order just one cocktail for the rest of his life, it would be a bourbon Manhattan. He uses 2 parts of Lucky Guys bourbon, 1 part Lucky Guys sweet vermouth (not available yet), bitters, and shakes it up to pour into a lowball glass over ice (or up). So, naturally Whitehead’s led with his favorite, bourbon whiskey.
Whitehead describes Lucky Guys bourbon whiskey as “raw, corn-forward, with hints of pepper from the rye.” Their bourbon contains corn, rye and wheat, all put in barrels to age adding three distinctive notes from the charred barrels. “The first note is vanilla, the second is caramel and the other notes I’ve tasted are burnt marshmallow, oak, chocolate, leather and cinnamon,” Whitehead says.
Vodka
Another classic, Lucky Guys’ vodka has a “hint of sweetness from the corn and an ever-present touch of pepper from the rye,” says Whitehead. Lucky Guys vodka goes through several distillation processes to remove odd flavors and ensure smoothness.
Aside from their classic vodka, Lucky Guy’s grape vodka is the perfect splash of flavor to mix with either ginger ale or soda. It’s the perfect adult-version of a childhood classic, grape soda (or as we’re more likely to say “pop”). And while they’re located across the border in Wisconsin, Whitehead expects Lucky Guys grape vodka to be a big hit with Vikings fans this Fall. Skol!
Gins
Lucky Guys has three gins available: London Dry, Straightline Citrus Flavored and Barrel Aged. The main gin, London Dry, has a “style that is clean, and has less juniper than most brands on the market,” Whitehead says. “A lot of people don’t like gin because they think it tastes like you’re drinking a Christmas tree, you won’t get that here,” said Whitehead.
As for the Straightline Citrus flavored gin, “Our citrus-based gin, is meant to pair with citrus juices like grapefruit or orange for a more flavorful Greyhound or Screwdriver,” Whitehead says.
Finally, Lucky Guys Barrel Aged Gin is locked away in a used bourbon barrel for 6 months to “add color and bring notes of honey and vanilla into the spirit. It’s our gin for people who usually prefer to drink browns.”
Liquers
You must be a curious and knowledgable person to start up a distillery. So, of course, Whitehead hand crafted a spirit that is as unique as his brand.
Ouzo, the Greek spirit that tastes like black licorice, is a “love-hate for most people” admits Whitehead. However, Lucky Guys has created an Ouzo smoother than the big brands. You’ll have to try it out for yourself to decide which Ouzo team you are on.
Lucky Guys distillery also offers Campari and amaro, both digestifs that are used mainly by Europeans before meals to kickstart digestion. These liqueurs hold their own unique set of botanicals for flavor. “The flavor include cherry bark, wormwood, dandelion root and orris root,” Whitehead said. With these liqueurs, Whitehead hopes to bring a taste of Europe to us Midwesterners.
Lucky Guys Distillery: Here to Enjoy
If you’re lucky enough to be a friend of Whitehead, you’ve probably already gotten a taste of Lucky Guys distillery’s hand-crafted spirits. However, with a series of soft launches starting this month, the public will finally be able to enjoy the unique taste of Lucky Guys.
“We’re soft launching this month,” Whitehead said. “We’re just waiting on some long-delayed bar equipment, but most of it is ready.”
The Hudson location will house the spirits along with an aesthetic of “mixed industrial and modern, with a hint of character from our family histories,” explained Whitehead. Using inspiration from his grandfather and a history of collecting unique items, the distillery feels homey while showcasing the inner process of distillation. “My favorite piece of the distillery is the 500-gallon copper whiskey still,” said Whitehead.
While we love a good drink, the Midwest is all about good company that comes with a cocktail. “As we head into summer, we expect our porch to be the place to be,” Whitehead said. “People will be able to see the river, and enjoy the sun.”
Lucky Guys distillery will feature locally made spirits and cocktails, paired with a sharable experience. What more can you ask for? You can find out more or plan your next trip at luckyguysdistillery.com or their Instagram @luckguysdistillery. Now all you need to do is go buy a white tuxedo!
