AbonnéInnovation & Know-How
Julie Macklowe, the businesswoman who wants to be at the pinnacle of the great producers of luxury single malt whisky
By Cécilia Pelloux31 octobre 2024
After over twenty years on Wall Street, having founded VBeauté - a skincare line - Julie Macklowe is now the owner of The Macklowe, which she describes as 'the world's first luxury American single malt whiskey. But what makes this unique gold luxury liquid so unique? The businesswoman shares her recipes for success in a highly competitive world.
To make excellent whisky, you first need know-how. To make The Macklowe, you need proprietary yeast, the highest quality barley, new American Oak ISC casks, and a small distillation process (column to pot). Julie and her partners meticulously design bottles and packaging. Then, a limited production. They only use ten casks to make a unique blend, and the bottling process is done by hand. Julie and whiskey master distiller Brendan McCarron work closely to ensure that only the best quality liquid is selected and produced. Finally, they only partner with the most exclusive restaurateurs and retailers in the US, such as Auberge Resorts, Aman, Gansevoort, Cipriani, Daniel Boulud, Collezione, and Acker Wines, to name a few. Julie Macklowe loves to say that she became hungry for success at an early age. We understand why, and we want to know her recipes for success.
What are your keys to success from finance to cosmetics and, today, your own American whiskey brand?
Julie Macklowe: My key to success is endurance. My day is like a marathon. I spend tons of time going from restaurants to meetings with the beverage directors, customers or distributors. I think we have had success because we have spent tons of time with excellent partners in the market, building relationships one by one. It really sells the product in each venue. It is not the most scalable business because it's essential that you have a personal connection with each person and that they buy into the story, that they understand and want to get behind you. After all, without the people who matter in each venue, a brand can't succeed.
How did you become a finance expert and a beauty entrepreneur now selling your whiskey brand all around the US?
My 15-year career in finance gave me unique skills: looking at cash flow, balance sheet, inventory, and understanding as an operator. I would argue that cash flow is the most critical thing for staying in business and for all entrepreneurs. Having invested 15 years as a CEO and in companies, I have this unique perspective. I probably understand financials better because of my background. We are much more careful with money because I personally sign every single check for everything we do. We have to be scrappy as I don't have the company pocketbook like some of these conglomerates that can waste money on things and see how it works. We have to be incredibly thoughtful and extremely methodical about everything we do. We don't have any benefit when we make mistakes.
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