One of my Heroes, Jimmy Bedford,  JD 6th MASTER Distiller, Died at age 61.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jimmy Bedford, the slender and silver-haired former master distiller of the Jack Daniel's whiskey during a 40-year career with the company, died Friday. He was 69.  His body was found outside a barn at his farm in Lynchburg, apparently the victim of a heart attack, company officials said.  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 traveled the world as the promotional face behind the product. He appeared in one advertising photo standing behind a Jack Daniel's bottle with his arms folded.  Bedford started at the distillery in 1968 and worked in the yeasting, fermenting, milling and distillation areas. He became master distiller in 1988.As master distiller, he was an ambassador for the product, traveling often to talk to consumers, distributors, retailers and others. He also signed some bottles and storage barrels, and hosted tasting seminars.