On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Club Mareva Beirut hosted an evening dedicated to That Boutique-y Whisky Company, the independent bottler launched in 2012 and known for selecting distinctive whiskies that reveal a different side of a distillery than its official range.
The evening was presented by Jean Paul Abdallah and brought together 18 people around a shared table. It was built around contrast, character, and selection, with four expressions that showed how one bottler can interpret very different whisky styles, and it delivered on every front.
The tasting featured:
Glengoyne 17 Years, Batch 1, 49.1% ABV
Glentauchers 17 Years, Batch 2, 48.8% ABV
Port Charlotte 13 Years, Batch 4, 53.2% ABV
Port Ellen, Batch 6, 33 Years Old, revealed as the mystery bottle
The first three expressions set a strong foundation across fruit, spice, depth, and coastal smoke. Each glass had its own personality and reflected exactly what That Boutique-y Whisky Company stands for: individuality and real presence. Jean Paul walked the group through each expression with precision, bringing the context and the detail that turned a tasting into something genuinely educational.
Then came the fourth bottle.
The mystery dram was poured blind. All 18 participants were asked to nose, taste, and write down which distillery they believed was in the glass. No one guessed correctly on the first attempt. Woody Ghsoubi offered a single hint: the distillery is closed. That changed everything.
The room turned. After a moment of silence, Mr. Ghassan Tabet, a good friend and long-standing regular at Club Mareva Beirut, correctly identified it. He walked away with a special bottle from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, a well-earned reward.
The bottle itself was Port Ellen, Batch 6, aged 33 years, one of only 250 bottles ever produced. Port Ellen closed in 1983 and releases from this distillery have become some of the most sought-after in the world. Distilled in March 1983 and matured in a refill butt before being bottled at 47.5% ABV without chill filtration or added colour, this was a whisky made with nothing to hide.
On the nose: smoky toffee, sea salt, BBQ smoke, and a damp earthy forest floor, with citrus and blackberry adding unexpected depth. On the palate: rich, sweet, and layered, with charred pineapple, oily barley, spiced citrus, vanilla, and a deep coastal smoke that builds gradually. The finish is long and saline, with earthy peat and a tangy persistence that stays with you well after the glass is empty. This expression won the Taste Master award at the Scotch Whisky Masters competition, and it was not difficult to understand why.
This was among the rarest whiskies we have ever opened at Club Mareva. What was in the glass was something else entirely.
A sold-out evening. Eighteen people, one presenter, and a mystery bottle that will not be forgotten easily.
Thank you to Jean Paul Abdallah for an exceptional presentation, and to everyone who joined us that night.
Tastings like this one are at the core of what Club Mareva Beirut is built for. If you would like to be among the first to know about upcoming events, follow us on Instagram or reach out directly via WhatsApp. Places are always limited and fill quickly.
