FINALLY!

 

It has been 20 years since first laying eyes on this remarkable bottle. It has been 20 years of multiple visits, only to be awed by its beauty each time. It has been 20 years of politely asking if it might be available to purchase and receiving a polite "no" in return...that is until yesterday!

 

As a specialist of swirled bottles, adding this to the collection is like a Western bitters specialist finally scoring that top shelf bubbly green Cassins or Wonsers. I'm not here to share the history of this bottle, the maker, or the company embossed on it. I'm just simply putting this lone photo up to share the obvious beauty that this 19th century gloppy-topped whiskey exudes. However, I will not end this here. I must also share the circumstance under which I obtained this bottle...

 

One might first assume that the prior owner was in need of funds, has a health issue, or possibly exiting the hobby? Actually, far from it. He still adores the bottle as much as I do and had no good reason to remove it from his collection...except for one...he simply felt it was time for it to finally be a part of my specialty collection.

 

This is the second instance in the past six months where the same kindness from a fellow collector and friend was bestowed upon me, the previous involving a gorgeous swirled/two-toned OGW ammonia. With over 30 years of bottle and insulator collecting to look back on, I am continuously reminded that the joy of this hobby not only comes from the actual objects collected, but more so from the friendships made and earned.