Top of the pots: Turntable blended Scotch whisky trio suit all musical tastes

Blended Scotch whisky is the chart topper of the spirits world. 

It’s the whisky that the masses adore, the whisky that can make anyone sing along. Yet, for all its mainstream ubiquity, there’s something about a well-crafted blend that speaks of artisan skills. 

Enter Turntable, the small-batch whisky blender founded by Glasgow brothers, Gordon and Ally Stevenson.

Building on the success of its limited edition releases, Turntable has returned to the stage with three new expressions, and true to form, they’ve kept the musical theme alive.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Paradise Funk, Bittersweet Symphony and Smokin’ Riff, three distinct expressions, to the whisky stage.

All three blends are natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at a rocking 46% ABV. 

Paradise Funk, Bitter Sweet Symphony and Smokin’ Riff  whisky tasting notes

So how do these three new core expressions compare? We took this individualistic trio for a spin…

Turntable’s Paradise Funk is a real crowd-pleaser. The colour of autumn sunlight, it delights with the sweet aroma of raisins and pineapple, and on the palate it has notes of toffee apple and caramel. With an oily mouthfeel, it’s a delightful dram.

Bitter Sweet Symphony is a less fruity, and darker of hue. Here notes of coffee, chocolate and vanilla predominate, but it remains light and smooth to sip.

Smokin’ Riff is the peated rocker in the collection. The colour of golden hay, it offers barnyards and smoky campfire to the nose, and chewy liquorice Blackjacks, and coffee with Cinnamon sticks on the palate.  

Three very different whiskies then.

In an exclusive interview, The Luxe Review asked co-creator Ally Stevenson about his aspirations for the brand and the musical influences that reverberate through Turntable’s whisky range. 

“Beyond whisky, another love for Gordon and I has always been music,” explained Stevenson. “We love exploring the connection between whisky and music – two of life’s great joys that have this rare ability to take the drinker or listener to a different place, a different time.”

In a world where rock legends like Metallica are venturing into the whisky business, one might wonder if Turntable is returning the favour. However, brand isn’t here to engage in a battle of the bands.

“We honestly haven’t given much thought to what others are doing in this space,” we’re told. “One crucial point is that we will always put the quality of the whisky first.”

The Turntable team simply believe that music is a fantastic way to connect with others about whisky, beyond the regular tasting notes. It’s about sharing stories, experiences, and, of course, a dram or two.

While some blenders prioritise consistency above all else, Turntable puts quality at the forefront.

“When we created Turntable, we wanted to combine the best traits from within different categories of whisky. We wanted to take the opportunity for creativity and flavour development found within blending and combine that with the attention to detail and transparency within single malt.”

Much like a live performance, it seems Turntable’s whiskies are dynamic and evolving. While they aim to maintain the style of their core range, each batch carries its own nuances.

“At Turntable, we’ve decided we’ll aim to blend and bottle the best whiskies we can each and every time. We’ll try to keep the style of the core range consistent, but like in single malts there will be some nuances in each batch we bottle. The range will go an a journey and evolve, but quality will always be our top priority.”

In a world where whisky and music are like old friends sharing a stage, Turntable is the band that brings them together. So, whether you’re a whisky lover or a music fan, there’s a Turntable blend with your name on it. Cheers to a harmonious sip!

Turntable Bittersweet Symphony, Paradise Funk, and Smokin’ Riff are priced at £53 a bottle.