Sequential Discovery Board Burr Box

All A Board

Join me this week on another diversion from boxes into the baffling world of burrs as we return to “Burrs and Booze”, an exercise in confusion. Luckily this journey is not unprecedented, having been undertaken for the first time with the brilliant Brass Monkey burrs. In that entertaining and silly review I very briefly explained the concept and history of the classic six piece burr puzzle, and once is enough, so go back and read it again if needed.

"SDBBB" by Juno

Thus without further ado I present a variation on the classic six piece burr puzzle, the six piece board burr, in which the notched sticks are replaced with grooved boards that fit together in a similarly puzzling manner. Now that we have thoroughly exhausted the discussion of board burrs (honestly, what else is there to say without getting … bored) lets discuss something else entirely. Things are moving fast here so it’s best to get on board.

Six piece board burr? Not so much ...

This particular “six piece” board burr, which is actually nothing of the sort, is handsomely crafted from American Rock Maple and Utile “plywood”. Junichi Yananose (Juno) makes is own special composites of beautiful hardwood in contrasting colors which are fused together and thus technically plywood, which is what he calls it, but unlike any typical plywood. Juno also makes incredibly special puzzles, and likes to challenge expectations. He is adept at making innovative and challenging classic board burr puzzles, which look practically identical to this one, but this is not a board burr in the classic sense, it only looks like one. This is his “SDBBB”, the Sequential Discovery Board Burr Box, a puzzle which disassembles in surprising and unexpected ways that require clever use of little tools which are discovered as the puzzle comes apart. It’s incredibly fun and approachable, and features aspects and mechanisms which are completely novel. Juno is a master at pushing the envelope, and uses CNC technology to achieve many of his complex ideas. The SDBBB is also one of the few “ideal” Boxes and Booze boxes, because it incorporates both of these elements. When the puzzle is finally, fully solved, a small storage space is discovered (the “box”) where a tiny glass of wine is waiting to help celebrate the victory. It’s a perfect ending to a perfect puzzle.

Killer Bs

Here's a toast to this brilliantly surprising box. You might wonder what kind of drink would pair with a puzzle named “SDBBB”, and you’d be right. It’s not the kind of name that easily lends itself to a cocktail pairing. I wondered too, until I realized that it was trying to tell me all along – I needed to find Some Drink with a Big Bunch of Bs. It turns out that I had just the thing, a “killer” drink full of Bs.

A bevy of boozy Bs

This is a bold drink, well suited for a bold puzzle. It’s a complicated Old Fashioned and Manhattan mash up, that splits the base spirit between bourbon and blanco tequila. The sweetness is provided by bananas, and there’s a hint of mystery and balance added from Bitter Bianco, a fabulous amaro. Black and Blue bitters (which taste of berries) tie it all together for a blast. Here’s to things that seem like one thing, but are really another - Cheers!

Would you like two B friends?

Killer Bs

1 ¼ oz Blanco (tequila)

1 ¼ oz Bourbin

½ oz Banana de Bresil

¼ oz Bitter Bianco

Dash of Black and Blue Bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite beaker. Garnish with a Bee.

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