Turntable Spirits - Bittersweet Symphony - Blended Scotch Whisky

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Bittersweet Symphony brings together sherry maturation and a pronounced malty character. For this blend, Turntable Spirits marries malt whiskies from Craigellachie, Blair Athol and Balmenach with grain whisky from North British. Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry cask influences meet those of Virgin Oak—oak casks that have not previously been filled. This release is part of the Blending House's core range.

The robust spirits from Craigellachie and Balmenach were deliberately chosen so that the sherry influence would not overshadow their individual character. The combination of PX and Oloroso is intended to balance fruity sweetness with drier spice. Dark chocolate and dried fruit are joined by cinnamon, orange peel and hints of cherry. The whisky is bottled at 46%, without chill filtration or added colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle comes with gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Blackcurrants and ripe figs lead the fruity nose. Honey adds a gentle sweetness, while a hint of chilli provides a spicy counterpoint.
• Palate: The whisky is full-bodied and distinctly malty on the palate. Chocolate and roasted hazelnuts accompany raisins and dates, with fiery spice complementing the rich fruitiness.
• Finish: Oak spice and delicately bitter notes of dark chocolate and cocoa linger through the long finish. A subtle sweetness reminiscent of date syrup rounds out the aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Brothers Alasdair “Ally” and Gordon Stevenson are behind Glasgow-based Turntable Spirits. They launched their Blending House in spring 2023 after gaining experience with established distilleries and bottlers, including Inver House, Douglas Laing & Co., BenRiach and GlenAllachie. Their shared enthusiasm for music inspired both the brand name and the musical names of their whiskies.

Turntable purchases casks of whisky from various Scottish distilleries and oversees their further maturation. For its cask work, the company also sources casks from American cooperages, Spanish bodegas and European wineries. Its focus is on small blends rather than single-cask bottlings. As part of its general approach, the married whiskies are first reduced to a strength just above the intended bottling strength, then left to rest together in cask for at least three months. This gives the whisky and the added water time to integrate.

Facts: