Ron Call

A Distilling Legacy Reborn

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.

In 1974, Ron, now 73, launched his own professional career at Beam as a lab technician, eventually earning the responsibility of quality manager. Under the mentorship of Booker Noe—legendary sixth‑generation Master Distiller at Beam—Ron refined a craft that would define his life.  In 1990, drawn by new challenges, he signed on with Florida Caribbean Distillers (later Florida Distillers), where he expanded his skill set in rum and bourbon production

Ron raised two sons, Jacob and Clayton, sharing with them both the art and the science of distilling. In 2007, Jacob joined him in Florida, after a foundation in banking, to learn the trade alongside his father. Clayton, the youngest, would later contribute his expertise in barrel finishing and wood selection. This dynamic family cohort later partnered with master blenders Steve and Paul Groth to launch Hemingway Rye Whiskey, blending storytelling with craftsmanship. Ron holds a special pride in guiding his children, especially when he stepped out of retirement to support Hemingway Rye. He recalls being surprised by high-rye mashbills like the 95% rye used—something he never explored before—but embraced it wholeheartedly when his sons took the lead.

In 2014, Ron returned to Kentucky to take on a historic mission: restore and revive the Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro. Collaborating with Terressentia Corporation, he led a comprehensive renovation of the original 1885 DSP-KY‑10 distillery site, which had fallen into disrepair. In 2016, under the O.Z. Tyler label, distillation resumed; by 2020, the original Green River name was restored, with the blessing of the McCulloch family.

During this renaissance, Ron mentored his son Jacob (head distiller) and continued to consult behind the scenes. The family produced acclaimed bourbon releases—including straight, wheated, full‑proof, and single‑barrel bottlings—which earned praise for steering the distillery away from its earlier, controversial experiments.

Today, Ron stands as a patriarch of a bourbon dynasty—one revitalized through respect for tradition and openness to innovation. His journey encapsulates Kentucky’s soul: rooted in heritage, driven by family, and refined by experience. Whether you're tasting a Green River bourbon, a Hemingway rye, or a Papa’s Pilar rum, you're honoring a legacy that spans centuries—and one still in progress.

Submitted by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee

Sources: 1. BourbonFool, Don Williams, April 2024.

  2. Whiskeyadvocate.com, Julia Higgins, February 2025.

  3. Hemingway Whiskey website