From the Cellars of Jlynn

Volume I – The VO Liberation

Author’s Note:

This series discusses alcoholic beverages. Please read mindfully if you are in recovery or choose to avoid alcohol.

image created with Canva by JL Tooker

The air in my cellar is always the same: cool, still, faintly perfumed with oak and memory. But tonight, the shadows felt conspiratorial. I’d come for something long overdue—a Canadian Seagram’s VO, rescued from the countertop purgatory of my ex’s kitchen.

It had been there for years, a silent hostage in a place where “special occasion” was code for “never.” Birthdays had passed, New Year’s toasts fizzled, and still the bottle stood untouched, its cork quietly aging, its purpose unrealized.

Whiskey like VO is not a brooding, centuries-old relic. It is a light, easy companion, meant to be sipped without solemnity. It does not dream of twenty more years in glass. It dreams of being enjoyed … now.

So when the opportunity came to liberate it, I did not hesitate. The cork will pop tonight. I’ll pour that golden sunlight into a glass, swirl it, and breathe in the simple satisfaction of its freedom.

And because every liberation deserves a ceremony, here’s how I uncorked this one …

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Bonus Offering:

The VO Liberation Opening Ritual

To be performed with reverence … and a wink.

Step 1 – The Announcement
Before touching the bottle, say aloud:

“Tonight, we drink the good stuff … because it deserves better than dust.”

Bonus points if you text this to a friend or post it somewhere your ex might see.

Step 2 – The Unveiling
Carry the bottle to your chosen spot (table, porch, or kitchen counter) as though it’s a crown jewel. Place it down gently, letting the label face you—a prisoner meeting its liberator.

Step 3 – The Liberation Pop
Hold the cork with your dominant hand, the neck of the bottle with the other. Twist slowly until the cork gives that soft thup—the sound of freedom.
Pause. Inhale. Let the aroma greet you before the pour.

Step 4 – The Pour
Tilt the bottle slowly, watching the golden arc into your glass. This is not a rush job; you’re painting liquid sunlight. Pour enough for a generous sip or three.

Step 5 – The First Nose
Bring the glass just under your chin and inhale. Imagine the years it waited for this moment. Whisper something encouraging—“You’re home now” works nicely.

Step 6 – The First Sip
Take a small sip, let it roll across your tongue, and note the flavors—caramel, vanilla, oak, victory. Swallow slowly. Smile.

Step 7 – The Closing Toast
Raise your glass and declare:

“To lost time recovered. To small victories. And to never letting joy gather dust.”

Sip. Repeat as needed.

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🏷 Bottle Label Notes

Name: Seagram’s VO (Canadian Whisky)
Type & Age: Blended Canadian Whisky, ~6 years
Origin: Canada
Proof: 40% ABV (80 proof)
Palate: Light caramel, soft grain, hint of vanilla, the faintest whisper of oak
Finish: Gentle, with a memory of sweetness
Distillery Lore: Introduced in 1913 by Seagram’s to celebrate the marriage of Thomas Seagram’s son — the “VO” is said to mean “Very Own” (though some insist it’s “Very Old”).
Palatability Expiration Warning: Best enjoyed before oxygen turns it from “pleasant” to “polite.” Social life expectancy: ~24 months after opening.

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Author’s Afterthought:

DO me a favor: check out A Reluctant Writer … and perhaps it will remind him that some bottles are better shared than shelved. 😇

Do you have a favorite spirit? Libation? … Nevermind—I don’t need the encouragement. (humor uncorked)

How about a favorite toast?