Lucky Sign Spirits opens distillery in Millvale

A new distillery, Lucky Sign Spirits, opened in Millvale earlier this month.

The current menu boasts bourbon, rye and gin. Co-owners Matt Brudnok and Christian Kahle said they plan to expand the menu soon — with future options including limoncello, dandelion vodka, and rum.

“The whole point of what we want to do is put flavors first. We want to create different flavor profiles that people haven’t necessarily had before,” Kahle said. “I just want to create something new. In the spirits world, they just do the same thing over and over again. There hasn’t really been much innovation. I want to create flavors nobody’s ever had before.”

They’re combining the traditional with the experimental, while focusing on quality, Brudnok said.

“We have something for anyone who drinks spirits,” he said.

Opening a distillery was something Brudnok and Kahle had wanted to do for years.

The pair met through a mutual friend — Sharpsburg Mayor Matthew Rudzki — who encouraged them to team up to start a business.

“We complement each other well,” Kahle said, noting their different preferences in spirits make them a well-balanced duo.

Opening Lucky Sign Spirits came with its challenges. Brudnok and Kahle had no prior experience or formal training, so they turned to books and the internet to teach themselves.

They also said that acquiring the necessary permits and licenses was a lengthy process.

“We weren’t allowed to produce anything at all till we had a license,” Kahle said, explaining that it’s hard to prepare for opening a business when you can’t produce and test the product in advance.

When they opened their North Avenue location, they were met with another challenge — covid-19. With the current restrictions in place, in-person events and seating were put on pause.

“There’s definitely anxiety that goes along with opening right now, but at this point, we’ve already taken the leap. It was either sink or swim,” Brudnok said.

Kahle said they’re already looking for ways to collaborate with other small businesses in the area.