Comfort

 

The Cabinet met last week to pursue the subject of scotch whisky as comfort. I assume that there is no need to explain the reason for this. If you are in doubt, you are invited to follow the news closely for a few days. We met outdoors again, this time around a small bonfire on the banks of the Assiniboine River as it is dark by 8:00 already. Loudly argumentative Canada geese provided the soundtrack while a whitetail doe and her three fawns raced back and forth nearby.

Some whiskies are challenging, some are boring, some are unusual, and some are undrinkable, but relevant to the theme, some are comforting. They are comforting simply because there is a high probability that they will be enjoyable in a way that makes you feel at ease. You will not have to decode layers of obscure flavours, nor will you have to debate whether to add water or whether you want another one. You will want another one. That was the hope anyway. 

So with this in mind, we tasted the Oban Little Bay, Scapa Orcadian and Old Pulteney Huddart. The first two were familiar to us and therefore selected as safe bets for the theme, and the last one was new, but from one of our favourite distilleries, so confidence was high that it would be suitable.

The Oban Little Bay is a delight. An understated but pleasant nose, a full, even chewy, mouthfeel and that lingering finish that makes you feel you really getting your money's worth. We did want another one, which we allowed ourselves after the other two were sampled. The Orcadian was a disappointment however. We did not want another. It had an oddly oily mouthfeel and a mildly discordant flavour profile. Nobody thought it was bad, but it did suffer next to the Little Bay. The consensus was that oxygenation in this old half empty bottle had done it some harm. And then finally we tasted the Huddart, apparently named for the street in Wick where the distillery is located. This was also a delight. Old Pult never disappoints. Here was another full-bodied whisky with depth of flavour and a lovely long finish. We would have had another, but with a second go at the Little Bay already planned, that would have put us over our four dram maximum. We are gentlemen of restraint and refined judgment after all. Next time.

The fire was so wonderful and the vibe so pleasant and comfortable that we can add this to one of the several pandemic silver linings. Even once we are permitted to breathe in each others faces again in the tight quarters of the Cabinet Chambers, some meetings will still be held around the fire, by the river, with the geese and the deer.

Slainte!