'Jewel of a place:' New cocktail bar opens in NuLu neighborhood. Here's what to expect

When visiting a bar named Seven, you may expect to do some light math.

Counting is part of the fun of the menu, with seven signature cocktails starting with “Number One Old Fashioned” and ending with “Seventh Heaven.”

In between, you can’t skip drinks called “Takes Two to Mango,” “Three Sheets,” “Smoked and Soured Four You,” “Five Star Taco Truck,” and “Hot Six-Y Thing.” Those cost $14-16.

The prices increase for a few vintage cocktails, including a negroni made with a 1960s bottle of Gordon’s Gin.

There’s another step up with listed premium cocktails. The Van Winkle Old Fashioned, made with Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B 12 Year, goes for $75. Or, you could sip on the Sazerac, made with the 2022 Sazerac Rye 18-year-old, for $150. Don’t worry about calculating the tax, which is included.

You get a glimpse of what Seven is all about outside the navy building at 815 E. Market St., the former site of Buff City Soap. In gold lettering are the words “Cocktails” and “Bourbon.”

Seven Cocktails + Bourbon opened in early January in the NuLu neighborhood and aims to be an “elevated cocktail bar focusing on hospitality,” Clay Livingston, general manager and an operating partner, told the Courier Journal.

While living in Chicago about a year ago, Livingston began plans to open Seven with some friends from Louisville. While Livingston is the “face” of the owners, another one includes a former regular customer of his when Livingston worked at Mitchell's Fish Market. He was also previously on staff at Red Herring, 8UP, and Doc Crow’s.

Livingston hopes to bring his experience to Seven to make “hospitality our trademark,” he said, something he worked into the nine-month renovation where they “completely gutted the place."

“NuLu is still an up-and-coming neighborhood,” Livington said. “Visibility on Market Street was important to us.”

Livingston describes the renovated 2,500-square-foot space as a “work of art." Inside, patrons will see moody lighting, black-and-white tiled floors, dark walls and booths with navy velvet touches.

“When you walk in, it feels like you’re more in New York or San Francisco than Louisville,” Livingston said. “It has a big city feel and a vibe you’d expect from a high-end cocktail bar.”

On another page of the menu, cocktails are categorized by “carbonated,” “clarified” and “shrub.” There are also options for draft beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks.

“This place is special for me and I hope it’s special for everyone else that comes in,” Livingston said. “This is kind of a jewel of a place.”

Seven is open 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

Reach reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Seven Cocktails + Bourbon bar opens in Louisville's NuLu neighborhood