Turntable Blending House

Turntable Blending House gives blended whisky a new voice.

The brainchild of Glasgow-based brothers Ally and Gordon Stevenson, this bold new brand aims to revolutionize the blended whisky market by rejecting tired stereotypes and breaking the mould.

Turntable blends combine the finest single malt and grain whiskies from different regions of Scotland, creating a harmonious balance of flavours that flip the record on ordinary.

Quality spirit, outstanding casks and time are the three non-negotiable components that make every sip a journey of discovery. No shortcuts.

With over 20 years’ combined experience in the trade, Gordon and Ally were ready to plot their own path. They longed to create blends notable for their complexity, innovation, and transparency, which belonged to a dynamic, forward-looking brand unafraid to push the boundaries. And here we are.

Turntable is not only a new brand of blended whisky, but a new way of thinking about scotch. Blending in small batches for character, never volume, the drams are conceived to challenge the status quo, offering enthusiasts and aficionados something unique, unexpected and inspiring.

Launching a new whisky venture is a serious undertaking, one the brothers did not take lightly. However, they firmly believe that their experience to date, coupled with their passion for whisky, gives them the perfect grounding.

Gordon’s background covers many different aspects of the business, and has seen him work with renowned distillers including Inver House and Douglas Laing & Co. Covering a wide range of markets, from Northern Europe to the Middle East, Gordon worked closely with production teams to create specialised products for different regions, and helped to make cask selections for bespoke single cask bottlings.

He has also participated in sensory and tasting panels and worked with a vast catalogue of whiskies, gaining an appreciation of aspects such as blending and production, NPD and consumer perception.

At Turntable, he steers the operations side of the business, taking the lead on the sourcing and management of its whisky program, warehousing, bottling, and costing. Having worked on a wide variety of products, from entry-level blends to super-premium 40YO+ bottlings, Gordon has an acute understanding of the costs involved at each stage, and will ensure Turntable offers the best value possible to customers.

Ally’s blending experience is a key asset to the company. Prior to founding Turntable, he worked with both the BenRiach Distillery Company and GlenAllachie, learning the subtle art of whisky blending from legendary Master Blender Billy Walker.

Under Billy’s tutelage, Ally went from a wide-eyed youngster who loved whisky to someone for whom processes like stock management, wood policy, cask selection and blending became second nature.

During his time at Glenallachie, Ally was also responsible for developing the route to market in Europe and Asia. At Turntable, he will take the lead on blending, as well as the sales and marketing of the business.

Ally’s knowledge and blending expertise help to set Turntable apart. The brothers’ experiences working with many renowned distillers have given them an opportunity to learn from the best and create a product that is truly unique in the marketplace.

So, about that product. Turntable has been many years in the making, with wood management being a top priority. To that end, the pair have sourced outstanding casks from around the world to run a sizeable rerack programme and develop the quality of their whisky stock.

What’s more, the founders’ industry connections have helped them lay hands on many storied casks, including rare one-offs which allowed them to pursue innovation and experimentation during the all-important creative stage. The goal was to elicit subtle nuances with each new batch, to set the stage for irresistible flavours and complex notes to emerge. And that creative streak extends to the branding, with Turntable representing a colourful, offbeat alternative to what’s currently available.

‘Gordon and I have been fortunate enough to travel the world with whisky,’ says Ally, ‘and a real frustration of ours in recent years has been the global perception of blended whisky – that single malt is where the quality lies, and blends are volume brands. Why does that need to be the case?

‘Blending opens endless opportunities for innovation and flavour development. We started Turntable with an idea that we could combine the best of both worlds – the attention to detail, transparency and provenance of single malts, and the scope of creativity and flavour development within blends. With Turntable we aim flip the record on ordinary and create something special.’

While some brands are wary of divulging the contents of their creations, Turntable focuses on transparency, calling out each component whisky on their label. The first Turntable products to hit the shelves will be limited-edition bottlings for 2023. The trio includes Joy.Discovery.Invention, a bursting bouquet of tropical fruits, Firestarter, a peaty powerhouse, and Purple Haze, a bright berry burst with a dark chocolate smile.

Turntable’s core range comprises of three blends:

Paradise Funk, Smokin’ Riff and Bittersweet Symphony.

Yes, music is another mutual passion of the brothers. All of the above blends, incidentally, are married for three months and the final products are natural colour and non-chill filtered.

Gordon and Ally’s passion for whisky, and the industry as a whole, is evident in every aspect of the company, and they are dedicated to creating a cutting-edge brand that stands the test of time. That brand is Turntable, and the time is now.