Whiskey RainbowWhiskey comes in all sorts of different shades, proofs and styles. There's Rye, Bourbon, Scotch and more. This image shows a bunch of them side by side and I call this the Whiskey Rainbow

Welcome to another entry in Photo Stories, where I share the ideas, setup, inspiration, and process behind some of my favorite images.

I’m a whiskey drinker at heart. At any given time, I’ve got around thirty bottles in my bar — everything from unaged Poitín to a 14-year-old Scotch to a 20-year-old Bourbon. Some are special sippers that I’d never dream of mixing, while others are perfect for cocktails, each bottle carrying its own unique character.

Whiskey typically gains its rich color during the aging process. Stored in wooden barrels, it develops deep caramel hues that darken over time. One day, while cleaning and organizing my home bar, I noticed just how wide a range of colors these bottles held. That sparked an idea: why not create an image that showcased this beautiful gradient? Something I could hang right above the bar.

I selected five bottles that best represented the spectrum and poured them into tall, slender shot glasses, carefully filling each to the exact same level. At first, the setup was nice — but something was missing. To add more depth, I placed the glasses on a clear acrylic sheet layered over white paper, which gave me a gorgeous reflection. Then I hit it with a strong backlight so the whiskey itself glowed, letting the color take center stage.

The result? Clean lines, a seamless gradient of amber shades, and a striking minimalist look. The whiskey practically glows against the white background, making the image a perfect balance of simplicity and warmth.

If you’d like to bring a touch of whiskey-inspired art into your home, this photograph is available as a print. Just click the image for purchase options.