King Charles was caught off guard after tasting a limited-edition rum created in his honour during his visit to Guyana.
The King was offered a glass of “Royal Welcome” rum on Thursday, the first day of his two-day trip to the South American country. The spirit was produced by Banks DIH to mark his state visit.
Before trying it, Charles asked nearby guests whether they drank rum and joked about “endless rum punches at the end of the day”. He smelled the drink, took a sip, raised his eyebrows and pulled a surprised face before saying: “Very good”.
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali encouraged him to finish it, but Charles seemed wary of drinking too much while on duty. “It won’t last long,” he said, taking another sip, before turning to an aide and appearing to say, “I can’t drink it.”
He then thanked his hosts and joked that somebody else would have to finish the glass. The King added that it was “a great pick-me-up”, recalling a saying attributed to his grandmother, the Queen Mother.
Banks DIH rum plant executive Gregory Garraway said the rum was more than 20 years old and had been made especially for the occasion. He described it as smooth, rich and flavourful.
Charles arrived in Guyana from the Bahamas as part of a nine-day Caribbean tour, which is due to end in Antigua and Barbuda, where he will reunite with Queen Camilla. The visit celebrates Guyana’s culture and people as the country marks 60 years of independence from Britain. It also comes amid calls from Caribbean nations for an apology and reparations for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
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