Beauty is subjective, isn’t it?

While we were visiting our friends over spring break, there was a point during the week when our host was at work for the afternoon and our hostess was out running an errand. My husband and Jeff were off doing something, and I was left to my own devices.

After reading for awhile, I became bored.

So I opened the pantry doors in the kitchen. The pantry doubles as a liquor cabinet but I wasn’t looking for anything to drink. I was just looking. And call me crazy, but I found a couple of bottles that were so esoterically beautiful that I had to get the camera.

Hi, my name is Kate. I’m here in your house taking photos of your liquor bottles.

Go ahead, call me a nut. But I know a pretty bottle when I see it.

I have never seen a topping like this one and fell in love instantly with the color.

I’ve also never seen this type of liquor before, but the bottle it comes in is beautiful.

Here’s a close-up of the little wallpaper insert on the inside back of the bottle.

I found out that this is a bottle of St-Germain, a French liqueur created from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms, of all things.

This little pamphlet describes the artisanal manner used to create the liqueur. And now that I’ve found the website, I’m upset that I didn’t at least make myself a cocktail while I had the opportunity.

Moving along in the well-stocked cabinet, I found a beautiful bottle of bourbon that is the manly opposite of the bottle pictured above.

This is Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

It’s a product from the Jim Beam Distillery.

I know that for some bourbon drinkers, Basil Hayden is the epitome. But I wouldn’t know that. This bottle was unopened, and although I’m fairly certain our host would not mind in the least, I didn’t want to open it and do a taste test.

Besides, my heart belongs to Maker’s Mark.

But that’s another story for another day.

Today, I just wanted to take a photo of the label. That’s a strip of wood you see there, topped by a strip of copper stamped with the name, followed by the steel letters that are riveted into the wood & copper strip. What can I say other than I think it’s perfect.

I even like the signature tape at the top.

I am not condoning the use of alcohol in this post, nor encouraging you to do so. I’m merely posting photos of bottles that I found interesting.

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I’m nearly finished the book I've had my nose in for days and when I’m done, I promise I will be back leaving comments on my favorite blogs and reading my e-mail.

Tonight I had to walk away from the book. I had come to a disturbing place, you see. But I couldn’t stay away for long. I had to see what had happened.

And so, shall we meet again tomorrow, then? Until then . . .