Jacob Call

“A Bourbon Renaissance”

In the quiet bluegrass hills of Kentucky’s bourbon country and the banks of the Green River, a legacy of whiskey distilling found new life in Jacob Call. As the eighth generation of the Call family bourbon tradition, Jacob’s journey embodied both heritage and reinvention, anchored in family roots, yet propelled by innovation.

Jacob descends from a storied lineage of distillers dating back to Samuel Call, who operated a still in Kentucky during the late 1700s. The Call name has been carried forward through centuries of refined craftsmanship and industry knowledge. Jacob’s father, Ron Call, began distilling at Jim Beam before taking key roles at Florida Caribbean Distillers, where Jacob would later join him in 2007. Growing up with Ron as a mentor, Jacob absorbed the science and artistry of whiskey-making from his early teens. Observing his father advance through roles at Jim Beam and then Florida Caribbean Distillers shaped Jacob’s understanding of consistency, flavor design, and visionary leadership.

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, who had by this time transitioned to a consultant, Jacob assumed the role of Master Distiller. Production then resumed under the Green River name. He guided the site’s transformation through whiskey releases, including bourbons labeled with nostalgic ties to early Green River branding and modern mash bills crafted for contemporary palates.

Over the following years, Green River bourbon gained acclaim for its approachable, silky‑smooth flavor. A mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley produced a style designed to be drinkable yet layered with notes of caramel, herbal spice, and subtle floral undertones. Within a few years, the brand expanded distribution into 25 states by 2023, thanks in part to Jacob’s commitment to consistency and quality at a value price point around $35/bottle. Then, in mid‑2022, Bardstown Bourbon Company, a division of Pritzker Private Capital and a major contractor and whiskey supplier, acquired Green River Distilling. Shortly after the acquisition closed in June, Jacob announced he would depart at the end of July. The decision was described as “bittersweet, though amicable”. He remained in Owensboro, but shifted toward independent ventures during a non‑compete period that lasted through October 2022. His exit marked the end of an influential chapter. Jacob had walked historic halls of a distillery revived, launched its first bourbon releases, overseen warehousing and distillation, and elevated Green River to renewed relevance, all while preserving its heritage.