We didn't just get a flight, we got an education … on how the spirits are produced, where they originate from, and why they are so special. There were flavors I still don't know how to describe, aromas so unique that they changed your concept of what a spirit can be, complexities and subtleties that challenged and rewarded your mind and palate in equal measure. We took our time and time is your friend … in the glass things swirl, evolve, open up, and reveal.

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.