By NALINEE SEELAL Thursday, April 28 2011
As Britishers stake out vantage spots in London along the route of tomorrow’s wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and as billions around the globe wait to watch the spectacle on television, the royal couple have received two unique gifts that are different from all others.
They are a special blend of rum made by Angostura, and a chrome-plated tenor pan.
Yesterday Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to London Garvin Nicholas, who will be representing this country at Westminster Abbey in London, presented a special blended rum made by Angostura and a chrome-plated tenor pan to the couple on behalf of the Government and people of this country.
For tomorrow’s big event, Nicholas will be wearing a morning suit in keeping with tradition.
Nicholas described the gifts as iconic.
The unique Angostura rum was specially blended for the wedding, and has been described by the Angostura master blender as: “A one of a kind Angostura rum blend that was aged especially in charred casks to ensure optimal cask reactions of the rums during ageing. It is a rich, dark chocolate, luxurious rum from Trinidad and Tobago that exudes a complex aroma of hints of caramel, spice, chocolate, banana with a smooth lingering taste of apples, toffee mellowed out with hints of vanilla.”
Newsday understands the rum was presented in a crystal decanter that can be reused over a lifetime.
The second part of the gift is a specially branded tenor pan purchased on behalf of the Government by Nestor Sullivan, the manager of the Pamberi Steel Orchestra. It is made of the finest chrome in Trinidad and Tobago and was specially tuned. It was made by Augustus Peters of La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz.
“It is hoped that these two gifts, the first which represents our finest rum by a company that has proven itself internationally and secondly our national instrument, the only musical instrument to be invented in the last century, will help to further market our nation and its products as well as signal our commitment to strong bi-lateral relations for the next generation of royals,” Nicholas stated.
Yesterday Sullivan said he ordered the special tenor pan through Mango Rose Steel Pan Services located in Arima, and Augustus Peters, a pan tuner, was sub-contracted to make and tune the pan.
He also noted that the names of William and Kate were engraved with a special font on the steelpan and the steelpan casing. The pan sticks also have the names of William and Kate, and this gift was sent to London through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sullivan said, “I think it, a good occasion to promote Trinidad and Tobago with this special instrument that we have created here, it is really a gift to the world, it is from the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Replies
oh i just LOVE this!!!!! What a fabulous idea and a wonderful wedding gift to this young couple.... i know they go enjoy that rum - LOL - and i really hope they also actually take a knock or two on the instrument!