1989 Murray McDavid The Fiddichside 31 Year Old Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A mystery malt. The Fiddichside Inn is a legendary bar started by the late Joe Brandie, but this teaspooned whisky is said to have a clue to its provenance in its title (is there more than one distillery with ‘fiddich’ in its name?) The second component is reported to be Balvenie - but we can't say for sure. What we do know is that Murray McDavid finished the duo in two first-fill sherry casks: Six months in PX and two years in Oloroso. Two barrels and two different distilleries technically makes this a blended malt rather than a single. Reuniting both has resulted in a whisky with flavours of baked apple, waxy fruits, creamy vanilla and sweet oak. 47.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... The palate is very gentle but does have a bit of a sawdust dryness. Again, a pastry like sweetness with egg-washed puff pastry, apples, raisins and cinnamon. So yeah, Tarte-Tatin, cobbler, what have you. Quite some oak and after a while some pepper starts shining through. Swallow: The finish lingers with dryness and the hint of pepper. It’s less sweet than the palate and nose, and a little bit more spicy. An apple seed bitterness joins the fray, with baking spices and some pear skins. It is quite true to the character of the distillery that we don’t know about, with notes of fruit and apples, some honey throughout as well. A very gorgeous dram, especially because it has mellowed so much over three long decades. Highly recommended. - maltfascination.com