Jack Daniel Distillery

Jimmy Bedford, only the sixth Master Distiller in the history of the distillery, announced that he is retiring effective March 31. “This year marks my 4Oth with the Jack Daniel Distillery and my 2Oth year as the master distiller,” said Bedford. “And it seemed like a good time to make the decision I’ve been thinking about for some time. It’s time I step aside and let the next generation continue the Jack Daniel’s tradition.” Bedford began working at the distillery in 1968 and has served as its Master Distiller since 1988. As the Master Distiller, he oversaw the entire whiskey-making process of milling, yeasting, fermentation, distillation, charcoal mellowing and maturation. As the Jack Daniel’s ads have long proclaimed, Jack Daniel’s isn’t ready to be bottled for consumers’ enjoyment until Jimmy Bedford says it is.