August’s Trio: Three Whiskies - Power of the Blend

Welcome back to the Mr Dram Man monthly whisky box, where we raise a glass (or three) to the art of distillation, the poetry of the cask, and the occasional terrible pun. This August, we’ve assembled a globe-trotting line-up that hops from Ireland’s sunny south to Japan’s misty mountains and lands back in Scotland’s rugged highlands and islands. Three very different bottles, three distinct personalities, and more than enough flavour to keep the long summer evenings interesting.

Let’s dive in.

Marley’s Lane Clubhouse Irish Whiskey

(Aged in rare Banyuls fortified wine casks)

There’s something wonderfully cheeky about an Irish whiskey that decides to go full dessert-wine diva. Finished (or matured) in Banyuls Grand Cru casks from the sunny French Mediterranean, this bottle is all about lush, Grenache-driven sweetness. Banyuls is a fortified red wine made primarily from Grenache noir, known for its dried-fruit richness and oxidative, nutty character: a rare choice in the whiskey world and a smart one here. Banyuls comes from a tiny appellation in Roussillon where the vines cling to steep, sun-baked slopes overlooking the sea. The “Grand Cru” designation means stricter yields and longer ageing for the wine itself, so these casks arrive already packed with concentrated character. It’s the whiskey equivalent of borrowing your neighbour’s fancy ride on lawnmower.

Nose - candied almonds, figs, chocolatey malt, caramel, roasted coffee.

Palate - summer berries, creamy vanilla, a touch of citrus, with savoury dried herbs and pepper underneath.

Finish - ripe fruit sweetness and balanced woody spice.

It’s the kind of dram that makes you want to pour an Old Fashioned and pretend you’re on a Mediterranean terrace rather than your living-room sofa. Sweet, silky, and unapologetically fruity - the Clubhouse really knows how to party in the Banyuls.

Rating: 82/100 A crowd-pleasing, dessert-leaning Irish whiskey that punches above its weight in the fun stakes. Not the most complex of the trio, but it delivers pure pleasure.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

(Blended Japanese whisky from Yamazaki, Hakushu & Chita)

If Marley’s Lane is the life of the party, Hibiki is the quietly elegant guest who somehow makes everyone else sound more interesting. “Hibiki” means “resonance” or “harmony” in Japanese, and this NAS blend lives up to the name. Malt whiskies from the legendary Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries are married with grain whisky from Chita, then aged in a mix of American white oak, sherry, and rare Mizunara oak casks. The iconic 24-faceted bottle represents the 24 sekki - the traditional Japanese micro-seasons that divide the year into roughly two-week periods. Mizunara oak is notoriously difficult (and expensive) to work with; the trees take around 200 years to mature, and the wood is porous and prone to leaking. The reward is a distinctive sandalwood, incense-like spice that has become a signature of top Japanese whisky. Hibiki was first launched in 1989 to celebrate Suntory’s 90th anniversary, and Japanese Harmony arrived in 2015 as the more accessible face of the range after stocks of older expressions tightened.

Nose - red berries, green apple, rich honey.

Palate - melted butter, caramelised dates, fragrant sandalwood moving into warming oaky spice.

Finish - brown sugar, citrus peels, white grape, black pepper.

This is balance in a glass. Nothing shouts; everything sings in tune. It’s the whisky equivalent of a perfectly arranged chamber ensemble — or, if you prefer the pun route, a true harmony of the spheres (and the stills).

Rating: 92/100 Elegant, refined, and quietly complex. A masterclass in blending that rewards slow sipping. The standout of the box for pure poise.

The Lochend Blended Malt #3 – Pedro Ximénez Hogshead

(Blind Summit Whisky – 320 bottles)

From the boutique bottlers at Blind Summit comes the third instalment of The Lochend Blend: six single malts from the Highlands, Speyside, Orkney and the islands, married in a Pedro Ximénez hogshead. PX is the ultra-sweet, raisiny sherry style, so this one leans into chocolate, dried fruit and candied nuts with real confidence. Only 320 bottles exist, so once they’re gone, they’re gone. Blind Summit are a small, hands-on operation based in Scotland who source, re-rack and bottle themselves. The Lochend series is their way of showing what happens when carefully chosen malts are given time to integrate in an interesting cask. Previous volumes used different finishes; this is the first to get the full PX treatment. Expect Highland Park’s influence to show in the nutty, slightly salty, sherry-cask lift mentioned in the tasting notes.

Nose - fig and raisin alongside fresh orchard fruit.

Palate - milk chocolate raisins with toffee apples; Highland Park bringing sherry notes, toasted oak, a nutty and quiet salty edge.

Finish - long, with toasted fruit and nut carrying cleanly through.

This is the richest, most “dessert-after-dinner” of the three. Think chocolate-covered raisins and toffee apples by a peat fire that someone forgot to light properly - there’s just enough coastal whisper to keep it interesting. A Loch-end of a good night, if you’ll forgive the geography pun.

Rating: 86/100 Satisfying depth and real character for a limited blended malt. The PX marriage works beautifully, and the small production run gives it that special “only 320 of us” glow.

August’s box is a study in contrast:

• Marley’s Lane – the sunny, fruit-driven Irish charmer (82)

• Hibiki – the elegant Japanese diplomat (92)

• Lochend #3 – the rich, chocolatey Scottish storyteller (86)

  
  

If you like your whisky neat and contemplative, start with the Hibiki. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter and more playful, the Marley’s Lane or Lochend will keep you company. And if you’re making cocktails, the Irish whiskey is practically begging for an Old Fashioned.

Raise a glass to August - may your evenings be long, your ice be sparse, and your puns be plentiful. Sláinte, kanpai, and slàinte mhath!

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• Marley's Lane Clubhouse Irish Whiskey
• Hibiki Harmony
• Blind Summit Lochend PX cask