The star of the show is Iim Beam’s Old Grand-dad 114, a high proof, high rye bourbon that is affordable, punches above its price point, and stands up in cocktail by making its presence known. Easily the one bottle, in a vast sea of bottles that I own, that has been purchased the most. And as this is my house bourbon in my house cocktail .. my old fashioned has a house name … perfectly dubbed The Old Fashioned Granddad.

The thing that grabbed me most was watching the stream of onlookers marvel, explore, and move through the exhibit in a way that was not simply silently standing before a work, looking for a moment, and then respectfully shuffling on to the next — like me, they were transfixed and engaged as they explored a wonderland of glass, shape, and color. The experience was so immersive…

…and so began a kind of love affair.