Turntable is a Glasgow-based whisky blending house. Brothers Ally and Gordon Stevenson are creating blended scotch whisky in small batches with the aim of pushing boundaries and breaking free from the stuffy image the category often has. To flip the record on ordinary and create a new generation of blended scotch whisky, something for the modern whisky drinker.
Blended scotch whisky is a blend of one or more single malt scotch whiskies and one or more single grain whiskies. This category is the most sold around the world, making up over 90% of scotch whisky sales worldwide.
Learn more about single grain whisky. Single Grain Scotch Whisky Explained
I met with Gordon recently to learn more about the story behind Turntable Spirits and sample some of their latest releases. It became clear to me very quickly that the brothers have a genuine passion for whisky, and they are completely transparent about what goes into their blends, anything from percentages of each whisky to cask types to their small-scale home operation.
Both brothers have plenty of experience working in the whisky industry, and even their father has a long history in the industry, so it does feel like starting their own venture was always on the horizon. Ally used to work closely with the blending legend Billy Walker, and Gordon was with International Beverage Group, the owner of Old Pulteney, AnCnoc, Balblair, etc. They have great connections when it comes to sourcing and storing casks, which certainly has made starting a new business a bit easier. And more enjoyable, as they get to work with people they already know and like!
Turntable Core Range
Currently, they have a core range of three award-winning blends which showcase three different flavour profiles. There may be some changes from batch to batch (and from cask to cask), but the core flavours will remain more or less the same. All are bottled at 46% ABV.
The point of the core range is to showcase the easy-sipping flavours blends can offer. Something for everyone. Turntable don’t really offer many tasting notes themselves as they believe everyone should be free to discover their own notes and aromas, and they don’t want to put words (or flavours?) into your mouth…
Their blends are usually made using three to six different casks. Anything more than that would take away from the individual flavours detectable from each whisky. By naming the distilleries (when allowed), Turntable also offers a bit more insight into that distillery’s spirit. Gordon tells me he likes to encourage drinkers to also try whiskies from the distilleries they are using in their blends. Maybe you will discover something new and interesting.
Due to the SWA regulations, they aren’t allowed to add the ages of each whisky on the packaging, but I’m sure they will be willing to tell you if you are curious.
Paradise Funk
This blend offers a tropical and sweet flavour profile with notes of pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon and toffee. Paradise Funk was awarded gold at the recent Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters.
The current blend consists of:
13% Knockdhu Virgin Oak Barrel
18% Invergordon ex-Cognac Barrel
8% Blair Athol Bourbon Barrel
30% Unnamed Speyside Virgin Oak
11% North British Virgin Oak
20% Benrinnes Chinkapin Barrel
Bittersweet Symphony
This blended scotch offers something for the sherry lovers out there, with notes of dried fruits, red fruits and dark chocolate. Bittersweet Symphony won the Master Award (highest accolade) at the recent SB awards.
The current blend breakdown:
22% Craigellachie PX Puncheon
17% Blair Athol Virgin Oak
21% Craigellachie Oloroso Butt
21% Balmenach PX Puncheon
19% North British Virgin Oak
Smokin’ Riff
The third release in the core range (also a Master Award winner) is slightly peated, as you can probably guess from the name. This was my personal favourite of the three (surprise!). It’s a lovely blend of campfire smoke with dried fruit, cinnamon and toffee sweetness.
The current blend breakdown:
21% Knockdhu PX Puncheon
18% Caol Ila Bourbon Barrel
24% Craigellachie PX Puncheon
9% Caol Ila ex-Red Wine Barrel
28% North British Virgin Oak
Turntable Spirits Limited-Edition Releases
At the beginning of June (2024), Turntable brought out two new whiskies. One made with a high percentage of single grain whiskies, and another bottled at batch strength (59.1% ABV).
Track 04 – One Way or Another, 46% ABV
With this release, Turntable wanted to showcase the beauty of vintage grains. The split here is 78% grain and 22% malt. Also, a high percentage of the grain whisky was aged in various wine casks, offering something unique to the blend.
The breakdown:
30% Strathclyde first-fill Bourbon
21% Invergordon ex-Red Wine
15% Cameronbridge ex-Marsala
12% Cameronbridge ex-Madeira
22% Linkwood first-fill Bourbon
My tasting notes:
Nose: Vanilla, soft caramel, red fruits, pink grapefruit peel, Brazilian Bum Bum cream (almond, pistachio, sandalwood, salted caramel & vanilla), banana split
Palate: Citrus oils, Daim (Swedish chocolate bar made from crunchy almond caramel covered in milk chocolate), caramel-like creamy mouthfeel
Finish: Something warming like a gentle heat from fresh chilli
If I had tried this blind, I don’t think I would have known it is heavy on the grain. The wine casks bring nice depth into the spirit. The first time I tried this, I was getting more from the wine influence, while the second time it felt a bit creamier. I recommend giving this a try as it really is an eyeopener.
Track 05 – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, 59.1% ABV
This one packs a punch yet is still very sippable. With the higher alcohol by volume, you get more out of the whiskies. Plenty to discover here. For 59.1% ABV, this really didn’t feel that strong at all. It’s delicious and the flavours just get better and better in the glass.
The breakdown is as follows:
26% Tamdhu first-fill Sherry Butt
21% Dalmunach first-fill Bourbon
18% Mannochmore first-fill Bourbon
22% Girvan first-fill Bourbon
13% Girvan ex-Marsala
My tasting notes:
Nose: YUM! Salted toffee, chocolate with hazelnuts & raisins, dark caramel
Palate: Sticky toffee pudding, brown sugar, chocolate mousse with berry compote
Finish: Lingonberries
Collaboration Drop 1: Starward, 46% ABV
Turntable did their first ever collaboration with Australian Starward Distillery. They blended Starward whisky with Scottish single malt and single grain. The release consists of 39% Starward ex-Australian red wine cask, 10% Caol Ila first-fill Bourbon, 29% Inchgower Virgin Oak and 22% North British Virgin Oak.
My tasting notes:
Nose: Sweet smoke, sticky BBQ sauce, gammon, pineapple, clementine peel, mocha, dark chocolate
Palate: Ginger, wet leaves/autumnal, subtle dried cumin, fragrant red berries
Finish: Oak, bonfire embers, medium length
The nose was great! The nose changes with air and goes from gammon to mocha. The palate is also enjoyable but felt a bit autumnal for the sunny summer evening.
Overall
As with the whole whisky industry in general, changes are coming… A huge chunk of whisky drinkers are younger (and female), and the stuffy image of blended scotch is not catering for the modern whisky drinker. With Turntable, the category has become more accessible to these whisky enthusiasts. There is so much you can do when it comes to blended scotch, and I feel Turntable is helping us to connect with the category again.
I love their transparency and enthusiasm. Turntable as a name is fun and playful, and the use of songs or tracks when naming each whisky is a great idea! I’m waiting for their Spotify playlist!
Have you tried any whisky from Turntable Blending House? Do you usually drink blended scotch whisky?
Disclaimer: This post was created in collaboration with Turntable Spirits. All but the last photo is by Turntable Spirits.
