Excuse to hoist a few: Former Jack Daniel’s master distiller dies

I don’t want to play favourites when it comes to liquor and alcohol, but Jack Daniel’s was one of the first hard liquors that I developed a real taste for, and I still think that a Jack-and-Coke has a better flavour than almost any other whisk(e)y-and-cola combination.

So it’s too bad that one of the people who has made Jack Daniel’s the drink that it is has died. Jimmy Bedford was only the sixth master distiller at the Jack Daniel’s distillery, and so it was his taste buds that ensured a constant and consistent flavour profile. There are obituaries all over the Internet, but I liked the one in the New York Times the best — it has a lot more colour than the dry Associated Press one. Recalls the Times:

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.

Despite that, he considered the job “one of the most enviable jobs imaginable.”

I think this calls for a pause in the summer, and a slow sip of appreciation.

And you know, even if Jack Daniel’s isn’t your drink, there are probably some pretty remarkable people at most distilleries and breweries — especially some of the ones that try to maintain a sense of heritage or craftsmanship. It’s not a bad idea to take it slow, enjoy your drink, and silently thank the people who make it as good as it is.