The much anticipated David Beckham endorsed single grain whisky, produced at Cameronbridge distillery. A combination of first-fill, rejuvenated and refill bourbon barrel-matured whiskies are used and Beckham, along with Simon Fuller, is very much involved in the development of the Haig Club brand.
The Haig dynasty meanwhile is the stuff of legend, with Robert Haig getting himself into trouble for distilling on the sabbath back in 1655! Cameronbridge was founded by John Haig in 1824, and a continuous still designed by Robert Stein (who was John's uncle) was soon installed at the site for the production of grain whisky, predating Aeneas Coffey's famous patent for his own version of the continuous still by a handful of years.
The grain whisky produced at Cameronbridge would naturally become integral to the well-loved Haig blended whiskies and now the Haig brand has been reinvented for a new generation and new markets. It may seem like a scary new world to some, but grain whisky is on the march, and Haig Club is at the very forefront.
It doesn't jump out at you, granted, but there's more here than meets the eye (/nose). Apple crumble, expressed lemon peel and a touch of mango. Millionaire's shortbread, banoffee pie, coconut milk, dried grass, orange Turkish delight and cardamom.
Toffee and vanilla with pleasant supporting oak notes. Fresh banana (neither overpowering nor artificial), a hint of nougat and honeycomb pieces.
Praline, cinnamon and a little ginger with perhaps a hint of cardamom returning right at the death.
Approachable, adaptable, good mouthfeel (I chucked some ice in afterwards and the texture was great). A hugely accessible whisky with tasty spice, toffee and, with the ice now, increasingly some tropical fruit notes too.
I don't think I've ever written a review before, but this whiskey is pure crap. I'll give them 5 stars for marketing and packaging, but the product itself is not worth your money.
Honestly one of the worst whiskies I have ever tasted. I have had more enjoyment out of blends a third of the price than this whisky. Gladly I only bought a small taster bottle instead of spending money on a full size one.
For the price I can get two bottles of better stuff.
I agree with comments made here by apparent consumers of finer single malts. It does not stack up against other bottles at $55+U.S, there are many other choices I would make (whether I am in a peaty mood or not). With that said, I did not open this and pour a dram expecting to taste a finer single malt. I picked up a bottle of this stuff at Costco for a mere $29.99. For that price, and what I can't get for that price in a single malt, it is not bad. I understand some would say that is not a reason to choose a whisky, but the price was right for trying something different. When I want a single malt, I will not reach for this. But if I want a drink on the rocks, and I do not want a bourbon, this is a good alternative.
This is a nice grain whisky, quite subtle and sweet but with the typical grain sharpness cutting through. The finish is spicy, dry and surprisingly long. I think a lot of people are comparing this single grain to single malt and expecting it to taste the same failing to realise or understand the difference between malt and grain, if they tasted the same there would be no point making malt whisky! Grain whisky has a taste and style of it's own and I think Haig Club does a decent job displaying this and may point people in the direction of the finer single cask grains that are out there. My only complaints would be the measly 40% and the price, you're really paying for the fancy presentation, should be around the £30 mark and I only bought it when it was on offer so my mark for the whisky is 7/10 but not at full price. And as for all the people marking it down because of the David Beckham connection, well... really?.....yawn......
