My dad was a scotch whisky drinker, especially at Christmas. ‘What is Christmas without a scotch,’ he’d say.

One year his son came to see him. They had lost touch many years before, and up he popped. So there they were, Young Bill, and Old Bill both sitting there like two peas in a pod, sipping their single grain scotch whisky, wearing similar clothes, similar spectacles, with similar mannerisms. Both whisky drinkers, particularly at Christmas.

So whenever I test a new whisky I think of those two, and know they’d leap at the chance to test but I have a secret weapon – ‘him indoors’ is almost a chip of my dad’s block, with a rare nose for a single grain.

Haig Club is the iconic Single Grain Scotch Whisky from the House of Haig, created in partnership with David Beckham. Will we all be able to score a spectacular goal? I fear not, but having tested Haig Club let’s just say you’ll feel you could. We drank it straight, though it lends itself to a cocktail if you wish.

 

Dad and Young Bill would of course, have removed any nonsense and simply savoured – and enjoyed it.

The Haig Club Deluxe in its distinctive square blue bottle design and copper detailing contains single grain whisky which has a smooth  but crisp taste with notes of citrus, which is blended with butterscotch and toffee. The result is a light, new generation Scotch that pairs perfectly with any mixer, or classic/contemporary cocktail – this does seem to be the thing this festive season.

 

Completing the House of Haig Collection, CLUBMAN inherits the same boldness of HAIG CLUB. Encased in a distinctive elongated square bottle with a stand-out silhouette – CLUBMAN’s design reflects HAIG CLUB’s tradition, innovation and style.

Interestingly, CLUBMAN is apparently aged in ex-American Bourbon barrels and you can taste again the smooth light flavour of toffee, and hint of butterscotch. This gives it a unique, smooth and light flavour base. The result works well mixed in long drinks or poured simply over ice – it is the ultimate stylish gift for Christmas.

I will be giving bottles to my favourites. Be nice to me, very very nice.

HAIG CLUB 70cl: RRP £45 (Available from Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Amazon)

HAIG CLUB CLUBMAN 70cl: RRP £25 (Available from Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Amazon)

 

Milly Adams’s latest novel is the last in The Waterway Girls – Hope on the Waterways pub. Arrow.