B-List Redux

The Cabinet met last week to once again enjoy whiskies whose names begin with the letter B. We did this before, in September of 2021. The fact that the three selections this time were all different than last time is a testament to how many distilleries have B names. Since you asked, there are 19 in total. G is, however, the clear winner with 27 distilleries, and A is a close third at 17. No other letters come anywhere near to the top three.

Oh, you didn't ask? My apologies. But now you know. And arcane trivia such as this can become useful at the most unexpected of times. I hope that is the case here.

This is of course one of the most arbitrary ways to line up a tasting, but as I noted in the last "Life Is Random" post, there is a charm and deeper logic to arbitrariness. And to be honest, the embedded joke in calling something "b-list" is hard to resist. Especially when, metaphorically speaking, they were all actually "A-list". It helped that all three were from Islay. We love our Islay whiskies, we do.

The first selection was the Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dha. That's a Gaelic mouthful, but the cylinder helpfully provides a pronunciation guide, and a translation. Toiteach a Dha means "smokey two". The "two" because it is a follow-up to the original Toiteach. This one differs by having been aged in a sherry cask. We pronounced it delicious.

Next was the much loved Bowmore 15. I say much loved, because we've always praised it. It reliably ticks all the boxes we look for: complexity, intensity, full-mouth experience, long finish. Yet, immediately following the Bunnahabhain, it seemed to pale slightly. Nonetheless, we also pronounced it delicious.

And finally, a newcomer to Manitoba and to The Cabinet: the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10. Wow. This also ticked the boxes and then some. We instantly pronounced it delicious. A polite debate ensued regarding the merits of this versus the Bunnahabhain. Subjective, of course. And an exercise in picking a favourite among favourites. Consequently, in a departure from our fourth and final pour tradition, the group split on the selection. Each to his own. Everyone was happy.

Slainte!