If you watched the State House banquet held in honour of King Charles keenly, you must have noticed that as most of the dignitaries at the high table were drinking water as has been the custom since President William Ruto took power, the King’s glass had something else.
President Ruto is a known teetotaler and does not tolerate alcohol at state events. He even closed the State House bar immediately after being sworn in.
Yet during the banquet held at State House this week he could not stop the King from having his favourite drink which on camera looked like either a martini or gin and tonic garnished with a lemon. Who can stop the King from drinking anyway?
Whether you don’t tolerate drinking in your house or in this case, State House. Hell Yeah. President Ruto even announced he had suspended the ongoing battles for kingpin ship because the real King is around.
“Your majesty, in this country, we have kingpins in different regions, and for that reason, I want to say that the contest is suspended because the real king is in the country,” declared Ruto.
But if you thought the King’s drink was served by State House, you are very wrong. The King is very particular about how he likes his drinks and has mastered the BYOB (Bring Your Own Drink) concept.
King Charles has a cherished daily tradition of savoring a martini cocktail, and he’s quite particular about its composition, as revealed by Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of publications such as Tatler, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker.
According to Gordon Rayner, the royal correspondent for the Telegraph, King Charles takes his martini very seriously. He goes to great lengths to ensure that his favorite drink is prepared to his exact specifications.
In fact, the King travels with his own selection of spirits, his preferred glass and butler, all to guarantee that the cocktail is made just right. This attention to detail highlights his commitment to this cherished ritual.
Reportedly, King Charles enjoys his martini every evening before dinner, making it a part of his daily routine, adding a touch of royal sophistication to his evenings.
This habit of bringing his own spirits might seem unconventional to some, but for King Charles, it’s a way to maintain a level of consistency and comfort, even when away from his usual surroundings.
King Charles is a connoisseur of fine spirits, with a diverse palate that includes not only his famous martini but also a penchant for whisky. He has even ventured into the world of spirit production by selling his own brand of Highgrove Organic Single Malt Scotch.
Reportedly, one of King Charles’s favorite whiskies is the Laphroaig 15-year-old Scotch, described as “a pungent smoke-and-seaweed Islay dram.” Notably, it holds the distinction of being the sole single malt to have received the Prince of Wales’s Royal warrant, a prestigious honor granted back in 1994.
Beyond his love for whisky and his cherished wet martini, King Charles also appreciates a classic gin and tonic.
The tradition of enjoying gin also runs in the Royal Family, as Queen Elizabeth II was widely believed to favor a gin and Dubonnet cocktail. This delightful concoction combines London dry gin with Dubonnet Rouge, a French aperitif crafted from red wine, herbs, and spices. It’s typically served with a lemon wedge and a couple of ice cubes.
In addition to King Charles’s affection for spirits, it’s worth noting that Queen Consort Camilla has her own preferences when it comes to drinks. While she shares her husband’s love for bringing her favorite drink along when traveling, she leans more toward wine rather than his signature martini.
Prince Charles also maintains his own collection of Highgrove-branded alcoholic beverages, named after his estate in Gloucestershire, Highgrove. This private residence is shared with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and has a shop that offers various products, allowing fans to bring a touch of the Royal Gardens at Highgrove into their homes.
One of the newest additions to this collection is the Highgrove Organic Garden Botanical Gin. This gin is crafted using heritage grains grown at Highgrove and is inspired by the botanicals found in the estate’s gardens. Notably, it’s distilled by an artisan producer in Oxford, marking the first certified grain-to-glass distillery in the UK.
In addition to the gin, the Highgrove Shop stocks various other alcoholic products, including the Highgrove Organic Botanic London Dry Gin, as well as whisky, port, liqueur, wine, and champagne. This royal brand offers a wide array of options for those looking to enjoy a taste of the Prince of Wales’s exceptional tastes in spirits.