R.I.P Jimmy Bedford, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller

August 11th, 2009

By: Ben

Jimmy Bedford, master distiller and face of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, has died.

Bedford retired in March 2008 after spending 20 years as the master distiller, supervising the entire operation at the 143-year-old distillery in Lynchburg, the oldest registered one in the United States. Among his duties was tasting the whiskey before it was sent to retailers.

Bedford was 69, and his body was found outside a barn on his Lynchburg farm, because hard guys don’t live to 70 or die indoors.

Bedford worked at JD for 40 years, and only retired after a sexual harrassment lawsuit forced him out.

After being named master distiller, he said, sipping became one of his most important tasks — comparing new batches of No. 7 with old batches to ensure consistency. But he was not allowed to swallow.

“People tell me I have more will power than anyone they’ve ever known,” he said.

Thank you, Jimmy Bedford. You were an important part of my 2005 and also 2008.

Source: Miami Herald, NY Times.