Completing a Blanton's collection on his final day.

I decided if I must own 150+ bottles of whiskey, they may as well be pretty.

Last year’s basement remodel by The Home Authority did just that. What a beautiful space to showcase Adam’s collection. He would have loved looking at these shelves, though it may have fueled his drive to keep hunting for rare and coveted bottles.

I don’t hunt like he did, but I still gain bottles here and there. His collection changes as I add a bottle from his wish list or finish one with friends. It is a wonderful space to sit and share a pour with people who loved Adam.

That top shelf is a stunner, housing his Blanton’s bourbon collection.

If you haven’t heard of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon – (first, where are you?) and second, let me explain. Well, Blanton’s themselves say it like this on their website:

Bourbon enthusiasts and Blanton’s collectors everywhere are avidly trying to get a full collection of these stoppers. Given that Blanton’s is allocated, it is hard to come by. Despite increasing production over the years, the demand for Blanton’s always outpaces the supply.

People are searching for a bottle with that last letter or two to complete the race. Often people buy whatever bottle they can find in hopes of trading for the letter they need with other enthusiasts.

I knew about Blanton's. Thought it was tasty and was aware Adam had acquired a few bottles. I did not know how hard he was working on his collection as it was not on display. (I had told him to quit buying whiskey!)

His brother and I found boxes of Blanton's turned around so I wouldn’t notice them down in the storage room when we were supposed to be writing Adam’s obituary but couldn’t find the words.

We had to pull them out and line them up and take it in because you can’t make this part up.

Adam’s final bottle with the last letter he needed for his collection was on his desk the day he died.

One of his co-workers brought it in to trade. I had to come to the PD after he died to get that bottle of whiskey off his desk. 

He had done it. On his final day in this race called life, Adam completed his Blanton's collection. I could only shake my head. Truly, you can't make it up.