Last year in November, David Beckham had made his way to Kuala Lumpur for the official launch of Haig Club Whiskey.
Haig Club Whiskey is a single grain scotch whiskey developed in partnership with David Beckham and Simon Fuller by global leader in beverage alcohol Diageo. Not only should the whiskey tastes sweet and light with a hint of soft caramel and toffee taste, the drink comes in a fancy midnight blue coloured bottle which just adds more charm to the whole package.
Haig Club Whiskey had invited one of the top Malaysian food blog writers Suelynn; whom many of you know as Bangsarbabe, to come on board as a Haig Club Whiskey Influencer. Other notable influencers includes American actress Kate Walsh, South Korean actor Lee 
Seo Jin and also fellow Malaysian, entrepreneur Bryan Loo; better known to many as the CEO of Chatime.
Seo Jin and also fellow Malaysian, entrepreneur Bryan Loo; better known to many as the CEO of Chatime.
Suelynn started writing at Bangsarbabe back in November 2007 . What started off as a food diary eventually led Bangsarbabe to being one of the most popular Malaysian blogs. Not only does Suelynn records her stories revolving food, but also other personal interests such as travel and fashion.
I had chanced upon an interview with Suelynn not too long ago. Here, Suelynn shares her personal thoughts on being a Haig Club influencer as well as what keeps her ticking as a writer.
Tell us, how did you decide that you’ll be a lifestyle writer?
Well, as what is mentioned on my blog, it started off as a diary. It was very much a food and travel blog.
Over the years, I became very much known for food. I picked up travel along the way as I traveled a lot so it became a travel and food blog. Then I slowly moved into fashion where I dabbled with beauty pageants and modeling.
People started wanting to know what I wore and had interest in my fashion style. As fashion was becoming a huge trend, I then slowly transition into writing a lifestyle blog.
Besides being a food diary, what else inspired you to start your blog?
I sort of have a writing background; I am actually a major in creative writing. PR communications is my strong point. I’ve always wanted to write and had been looking into several publications and freelance writing.
My first job was with a small publication and it inspired me to continue writing up food adventures. Working for clients is different as I am not able to control the content included.
With my blog, I could control what content goes into it. To be able to write what I want was also part of what made me want to take the blog seriously.
Do name one of your greatest moment you have been proud of due to your blog?
Not to say proud, but I am very grateful for all the support that I’ve received; that I have my fans, my readers. I am grateful for brands who have approached me as they are the ones who really helped built up my blog. I am really grateful for them.
Having so many categories to write about, what is your one tip to being a lifestyle writer?
Never stop learning! You can always learn a new skill and progress it; but when you stop learning, you’ll always be there, at where you last stop.
So how did your adventure as a Haig Club Whiskey influencer started for you?
I myself am a cocktail-whiskey drinker. I had bought Haig Club because I really liked the design of the bottle. I found the taste of Haig Club Whiskey to be really nice and had uploaded a picture of it on Instagram. Haig Club London then found me and asked if I would like to join them as an influencer.
We had a few discussions about future plans, I then decided to get on-board. It has been amazing ever since.
Could you elaborate further on your role as a Haig Club Whiskey influencer?
Haig Club has been very supportive. As an influencer, we influence people’s lives with the decisions in brands (which we are trying to do with Haig Club Whiskey).
Besides that we’re hoping to have a Haig Club event very soon, a collaboration of Haig Club Whiskey and Bangsarbabe in conjunction with Bangsarbabe’s 8th year anniversary.
So it’s more of helping to get Haig Club Whiskey in touch with the lives revolving around Bangsarbabe (Other brands, readers etc).
So it’s more of helping to get Haig Club Whiskey in touch with the lives revolving around Bangsarbabe (Other brands, readers etc).
As a writer who has done so many food reviews, what did you think of the food pairing on that night?
The whole process was very well thought of. Food was very nice but to me the cocktails were the highlight. Haig Club London had put up a list of cocktails to be served for that night and I just simply loved the compilation. Food was very refined; some which the taste palates were toned down for the cocktails.
How did it feel to have met David Beckham?
As Mr. Beckham is someone with such high status, I had thought he wouldn’t get too personal with just anyone but he was actually very humble. He knew our names (guests), he knew what we did, where we came from and even when we touched down (in London). We all each had a half-an-hour session with him.
The photo shoot for Haig Club with him was the session for him to get accustomed to us. Questions like “How are you?”, “How was your flight?”, “Is this your first time in London?” were asked. He was really nice like that.
He is also very fond of his wife (Victoria Beckham); her boutique was just right in front of the club itself! I did not get to meet her though I would have loved to. Overall, he’s a very sweet guy.
Now do share your opinion with us; what sets this whiskey apart from the rest besides it being a single-grain scotch whiskey?
I like its versatility. You can do a lot with the whiskey, like drinking it neat and on the rocks. You can do so much with it, like cocktails! The whiskey is subtle that it can go well with many food. Lots of whiskies out there are heavy and requires the drinker to have it on the rocks and diluted but with Haig Club, you could just drink it nicely with your food; it doesn’t drown the food flavour. Also, the bottle’s design! How could you not love it?
The bottle is blue not by random; whiskey makers may get their sense of smell and taste affected by the colour of the whiskey. So if the bottle is clear, when tasting, whiskey makers may judge the whiskey’s taste due to being influenced on the aging colour of it.
With the darker shade of the bottle, you cannot tell the colour of the whiskey. Thus, you rely fully on the taste to enjoy rather than letting the colour of the whiskey influence your perception.
How do you see the future of Haig Club Whiskey in Malaysia?
Haig Club is really new, so I can’t tell much. But based on how it is now, they are trying to appeal more to people by introducing Haig Club into cocktails so that people would think more of the brand, better association with it. I hope that people would soon learn to drink it neat, on the rocks.
People are really missing out on a lot of flavour profiles, and just think of turning it into a cocktail. People would not really know how good the whiskey tastes on it own; they wouldn’t know the mouth-feel and the aftertaste of it.
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