Bardstown Bourbon Company Founders
(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
1
Jacob Call
In 2014, Jacob took over the historic DSP‑KY‑10 site in Owensboro, Kentucky, which had once been known as OZ Tyler Distillery and which had originally achieved its Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) registration in the 1880s. He led the renovation and revival of the nearly forgotten facility. By 2016, with the help of his father Ron, Jacob assumed the role of Master Distiller.
2
Ron Call
Ron Call is a seventh‑generation master distiller whose life seems scripted by whiskey. Born into a storied lineage dating back to Samuel Call, who ran stills in 1790s Kentucky, Ron grew up steeped in bourbon tradition. His early years were shaped by visits to Jim Beam’s Boston plant, where he delivered dinner to his father, Jacob Call, sparking a lifelong fascination with distilling.
3
Daniel Linde
In 2006, Washington University and Pepperdine graduates Daniel Linde and David Mandell broke into the alcohol market with Pink Spirits. After a successful launch and surprisingly robust sales, the blossoming company was sold in 2009, and with their capital, the duo was eager to tackle the flourishing bourbon market.
4
Peter Loftin
In 2014, Loftin turned his attention to bourbon. Inspired by Kentucky’s deep history, with a small group of investor friends, he founded Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC) on a 100‑acre farm near Bardstown, Kentucky. The distillery was built from scratch in order to focus on custom collaborative barrel programs for brands, and also as a destination experience for visitors.
5
David Mandell
In 2014, Mandell, with three other partners, co‑founded the Bardstown Bourbon Company, fueled by a vision for a collaborative distilling program that produced custom bourbon and whiskey for other brands. He envisioned a ‘Napa Valley bourbon distillery destination,’ combining whiskey production with hospitality and transparency.
6
Charles Wathan Medley
Charles continued his hands-on education and the honing of his craft as a distiller through the 1960s. In 1969. The distillery closed in 1987, then was bought by Glenmore Distillery in 1988 and reopened under the Glenmore name. Glenmore was purchased by United Distillers in 1991. All the while, Charles Medley was retained at the helm as Master Distiller.
7
R. Wathan Medley
R. Wathen Medley was born into a tradition of craftsmanship. He was the son of John Medley, who operated the Medley Distilling Company in Owensboro, Kentucky. For generations, the Medleys had been part of a small but influential circle of Kentucky families shaping what would become one of America’s most celebrated spirits.
8
Steve Nally
To Nally, transparency is an important concept. It is evident in the architecture, the way the product is presented, and the overall philosophy of the company. Transparency to Bardstown Bourbon is showing the bourbon public exactly what is taking place. According to Peter Loften, “When this company set out in 2014, the original plan was to grow into it in 15 or 20 years; we accomplished this goal in 6 years. Nobody could imagine the velocity the bourbon industry would grow at.” Steve Nally was the right man to carry out this philosophy.