On Thursday, August 20, Club Mareva Beirut welcomed whisky enthusiasts for the latest edition of Mareva Malt Mavericks, an evening dedicated to one of Scotland’s most distinctive small distilleries. Guided by Jean Paul Abdallah, guests explored four expressions from Edradour and its heavily peated sibling, Ballechin — two very different personalities born from the same Perthshire farm distillery.
Four whiskies. Two personalities. One distillery. That was the promise of the evening, and it delivered exactly that.
Scotland’s Little Gem, Up Close
Before the first pour, Jean Paul set the scene: Edradour, founded in 1825 and affectionately known as Scotland’s Little Gem, remains one of the last traditional farm distilleries still in production. Its small stills, hands-on approach, and deliberately modest scale give its spirit a character that larger operations often struggle to replicate.
Yet within that same historic site, Ballechin tells a very different story. Named after a long-lost distillery on the Edradour estate, Ballechin is Edradour’s heavily peated expression — a bold counterpoint to the distillery’s unpeated Highland style. The tasting was designed to move between these two worlds, and the contrast proved one of the evening’s greatest pleasures.
The Lineup
Guests worked through four carefully chosen expressions:
Edradour 12 Years Old Caledonia — A rich, sherried Highland dram finished in Oloroso casks, named after Dougie MacLean’s beloved song. Warm dried fruit, gentle spice, and the rounded sweetness that has made Edradour a favourite among those who appreciate traditional Scotch character.
Edradour 10 Years Old The Distillery Edition — The classic Edradour profile at its most direct: honeyed malt, orchard fruit, and a creamy texture that speaks to the distillery’s small-batch craftsmanship. For many guests, this was the purest expression of what Scotland’s Little Gem is all about.
Ballechin 10 Years Old Heavily Peated — The evening’s first encounter with smoke. Where Edradour whispers, Ballechin speaks loudly. Peat, dark chocolate, and a maritime edge transformed the room’s conversation — and reminded everyone that this tiny distillery is capable of considerable power.
Ballechin 18 Years Old — The finale. Two decades of maturation gave the peat time to integrate fully, producing a whisky of remarkable depth: smouldering oak, leather, dried fruit, and a long, warming finish that held the room in quiet appreciation. It was a fitting close to a tasting built around contrast.
Two Sides of the Same Still House
What made this evening particularly memorable was the journey itself. Moving from the unpeated elegance of Edradour to the assertive peat of Ballechin — and back again through discussion and comparison — gave guests a rare opportunity to understand how one distillery can produce such radically different spirits.
Jean Paul guided the room through each pour with his characteristic blend of knowledge and accessibility, sharing the history of the distillery, the philosophy behind the Ballechin range, and the details of cask influence and maturation that shape each bottle. Questions flowed as freely as the drams, and the conversation continued long after the final glass was poured.
As with all Mareva Malt Mavericks evenings, cheese and cold cuts were served throughout, giving guests the chance to explore pairings at their own pace and discover how the sweeter Edradour expressions and the bolder Ballechin releases responded to different flavours on the plate.
An Evening Worth Savouring
The Edradour Experience was a resounding success — a full room of enthusiasts, four outstanding whiskies, and an evening that deepened everyone’s appreciation for one of Scotland’s most individual distilleries. From the honeyed charm of the 10 Year Old Distillery Edition to the majestic depth of the Ballechin 18, there was something here for every palate and plenty to discuss between pours.
We thank Jean Paul Abdallah for an exceptional presentation, and everyone who joined us for another memorable Mareva Malt Mavericks evening. Club Mareva Beirut continues to bring the world’s finest whiskies to Beirut, one tasting at a time — and we look forward to welcoming you at the next one.
