Turntable Spirits Track 8: Black Betty

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 52.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

For Black Betty, blending is followed by an extended period of maturation together. Turntable blended whiskies from five Scottish distilleries, then finished the blend for over 20 months in Ruby Port Hogsheads. This eighth Track in the limited series combines a fruit-led Speyside character with a delicate smoky note from Islay.

The blend comprises single malts from Glenlossie, Balmenach, Caol Ila and Glen Moray, alongside single grain from Loch Lomond. Glenlossie from a Hogshead contributes notes of lemon cake. Balmenach from a First Fill Rye Barrel brings jam and ginger, while Caol Ila from a Virgin Oak Barrel adds smoke and hints of toasted marshmallows. Glen Moray from a second-fill Bourbon Barrel contributes summer fruits; Loch Lomond rounds out the blend with toasted nuts.

The whisky is bottled at 52.5% in a 0.7-litre bottle, without chill filtration or added colouring. It comes in gift packaging with a design inspired by vinyl records.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals intense ripe strawberries and dark berries, alongside creamy caramel sweetness and the aroma of toasted marshmallows.
• Palate: On the palate, citrus fruits and spicy ginger meet fruity jam. Cigar notes add another spicy dimension to the fruit.
• Finish: Delicate coastal smoke lingers on the finish, accompanied by subtly spicy notes of toasted nuts.

Distillery/Bottler:

Turntable was founded in 2023 by brothers Alasdair and Gordon Stevenson. The blending house focuses on creating its own small-batch blends. When they launched their joint venture, the brothers brought more than twenty years of combined industry experience.

Alasdair previously worked at BenRiach, GlenDronach and GlenAllachie under Billy Walker. His experience there with cask management, wood types and maturation strategies informs Turntable’s work. Recipes can take months to develop before the desired balance is achieved. The connection with music appears in the names and designs of the releases: a fitting track accompanies the whisky’s concept, but is not the starting point for developing the recipe.

Facts: