Jerry Dalton
Dr. Jerry Dalton earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Louisville. He may be best known for being the only non-family member to be a Master Distiller for Jim Beam Bourbon. He was the Master Distiller from 1998-2007 and mentored Jim Beam’s great-grandson, who took over after Jerry’s retirement.
Before working in the bourbon business, Dr. Dalton was a teacher, workshop leader, consultant, and inventor. He published works about technical management, but his studies of Taoism led him to write Backward Down the Path. He wanted to provide a faithful interpretation of the Tao Te Ching for any interested reader, not just scholars. Dr. Jerry Dalton summed up his philosophy in the four words: Mundane Events, Magical Process.