King Charles gives royal seal of approval to rum made in his honour
King Charles sampled a specially produced Guyanese rum aged for more than 20 years.
King Charles sampled a specially produced Guyanese rum aged for more than 20 years and declared it "very good" during a reception in his honour.
The 77-year-old monarch laughed as he tasted the limited-edition drink, called 'Royal Welcome', at State House in Georgetown on Thursday (29.10.26).
The rum was prepared by Guyanese drinks company Banks DIH to mark his two-day state visit, hosted by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
Charles first smelled the spirit before taking a sip, pulling a surprised face and laughing as he delivered his verdict.
President Ali encouraged the King to finish the drink rather than merely sip it.
Charles tried again, then joked: "Somebody else will have to finish it!"
Gregory Garraway, the company's rum plant executive, said the specially selected spirit had been matured for more than two decades.
He said: "We wanted the King's visit to be something he could actually taste."
Garraway described the rum as smooth, rich and full of flavour, adding that Charles had enjoyed the sample.
The tasting took place during a cultural evening organised by the president following talks between the two leaders.
Guests included 'Electric Avenue' singer Eddy Grant, who was born in Guyana before moving to Britain as a child.
Former justice secretary David Lammy, whose parents came from Guyana, also attended the gathering.
Charles sat alongside President Ali and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband as performers celebrated the country's different cultural traditions.
The entertainment featured music and dancing representing Indigenous, African, Indian and Chinese communities.
Graduates of Glasgow's National Piping Centre also joined Guyanese drummers for a performance bringing together musicians from both countries.
The state visit marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Britain and Guyana, which gained independence in 1966.
Charles last visited the South American country in February 2000, when he was Prince of Wales.
His programme in Georgetown also includes meeting Indigenous leaders, learning about biodiversity projects and paying tribute to Commonwealth service personnel.
He is due to visit the city's seawall, an important part of its coastal defences, during Friday's engagements.
The King travelled to Guyana after spending two days in the Bahamas at the start of his autumn tour.
He will continue to Antigua and Barbuda, where Queen Camilla is expected to join him for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
