A Distillery with a storied Past

It is safe to say whiskey runs in the Call family blood. The Calls can trace their distillery lineage back to 1866 with Reverend Daniel Call. The Lutheran minister, who also served as the teacher of the most recognized name in whiskey, Jack Daniels, perfected the distilled beverage until the temperance movement compelled him to leave the whiskey business. However, his descendants did not forgo selling spirits, taking the helm to craft legal moonshine in North Carolina. 

From their whiskey bottle design to the preservation of Willie Clay Call's infamous bootlegging vehicles, the Distillery, now operated by a seventh-generation distiller, Brian Call, honors its legacy in many ways. As the photographer, I wanted to capture such a rich family history. Therefore, I embraced the nostalgia for this photoshoot, juxtaposing the brand's past with the present. I chose to photograph the "Reverend" whiskey, the original sour-mash whiskey -- a family recipe as classic as Clay's blue 1961 Chrysler New Yorker -- with the infamous moonshine hauling vehicles in the periphery. These pictures celebrate the timelessness of the Call legacy, honoring its origins while connecting the company to its present.

This shoot reminded me of how much I like photographing drinks. Stay tuned for a new beverage edit coming soon...