Sometimes I cannot believe my luck. Last week I was invited for dinner at the Haig Club, David Beckham’s pop-up member’s club inside London’s iconic Wellington Arch. The retired footballer, who launched the single grain Scotch whisky last year with UK drinks giant Diageo and music mogul Simon Fuller, welcomed guests to the illuminated Hyde Park landmark throughout the week, everyone enjoying a modern interpretation of the brand’s original ‘clubman series’ of advertisements from the 1920’s. The pop-up was unbelievably chic – I couldn’t believe the level of detail that had been created for only such a short amount of time!
Nikki Tibbles flowers exuded an incredible scent around each room and each course of our meal (cooked by Brett Graham, Mike Robinson and Alex Harper, of the Michelin starred Harwood Arms) was enjoyed alongside a different Haig Club cocktail created by Sweet and Chilli in collaboration with the whisky’s global ambassador Ewan Gunn.
After supper we were treated to MORE whisky (this time piping hot cocktail) outside on the Wellington Arch’s terrace (what a view!) before a whisky tasting back inside. What followed, from what I remember, was a mojito-making lesson, and a… ummm… I think another cocktail class?!... Ah yes, I drank an Old Fashioned... Forgive me, but by that stage everything was understandably hazy!... Thank goodness there was a car waiting to take me and my new Beckham-signed bottle of Haig Club home before I fell asleep in that cosy ol'whisky snug!
