Sometimes when you work in the industry, you get a very very cool chance… a chance to try a whisky before it’s release! As you’re reading this the official release of the new Turntable Born to be Wild is here, but as I’m writing this review it’s still under embargo and I can’t actually post this until the 7th of October. The reason that I got this sample is because of the amazing enthuosiasm the dutch importers Craft Spirits have for this release, while they were visiting the whiskysite.nl shop they simply couldn’t contain their enthousiasm over just how good this whisky is. And I was lucky they we’re willing to share a dram with me for this blog!
I’ve reviewed Turntable Spirits before (check out the Turntable x Starward review!!) and I have to say that I’ve become a huge fan of Turntable ever since getting to know their products. Blended whisky is still a category that deserves much more appreciation than it’s getting and brands like Compass Box and Turntable are working hard on changing that general opinion. I always say that if you give a great painter a full array of colours, they can paint something truly amazing. And that’s just what they boys at Turntable are doing. They take amazing whisky elements from all across the globe, and create something new and exciting!
I highly recommend anyone giving Turntable a try, and whether this Turntable Track 07 – Born to be Wild should be high on your list? That’s what we’ll find out in today’s tasting notes!
Tasting Notes: Turntable Track 07 – Born to be Wild
Stats:
ABV: 53% (106 proof)
Age: NAS
Bottled by: Turntable Spirits
Chill-filtered: No
Natural colour: Yes
Nose:
A much more delicate nose than the 53% ABV would lead you to expect waits for you in the glass. With delicate notes of peppered roast beef, charred bacon bits and a whiff of iodine, the peaty elements in this dram are clearly noticeable. But beyond that there’s sweet layers of honey, bundt cake and molasses. That pair beautifully with spices such as kardemom, nutmeg and dutch speculaas spice mix.
Palate:
The expected punch is abundantly available on the palate though, where initial soft notes of manuka honey and cotton candy quickly make way for more bombastic flavours. Freshly ground black pepper covered rump steak instantly comes to mind. And that steak was definitely kamado bbq smoked! The peaty elements shine beautifully with loads of brine and iodine, and maple syrup covered bacon strips rounds the palate off in an amazing way.
Finish:
I find myself undecided whether this is a long or a short finish. At first your hit with some more peppered steak, thick molasses and honey, but it fades rather quickly into a strawberry lemonade and popsicle sticks (a bit tannic). Those last two notes linger for a very long time, but it’s the initial notes on the finish that I wanted to savour.
Food Pairing:
There’s only one thing that comes to mind to pair with this dram and that’s a good old fashioned bbq! Smoked steak with just a dusting of sea salt and pepper will blow your mind with this dram. But for those with a sweettooth we can still stay in the bbq theme, as S’mores go wonderfully well with this Turntable Born to be Wild as well! Lastly, if you’re still looking to bbq but fancy a vegan (or simply a healthier) option… grilled artichoke hearts work wonders as well!
Verdict:
As I’m tasting this I don’t have all the details yet about what’s in this blend, what the bottle will look like, or even what the exact price will be.. but I can already tell you one thing, this one is worth a try! The nose and palate of this Turntable Born to be Wild are simply stunning and will please anyone that can appreciate a bit of peat! The finish was a bit of a let down for me, it simply lost it’s beautiful flavours to quick for my liking. But there’s an easy solution to fix this problem, just pour yourself a second glass quickly after the first one!
