Dark n Stormy cocktail with Goslings black rum, ginger beer, and lime.
It was a dark and stormy night… and so starts the sailor’s tale, whether it be of vengeful ghosts or monster whales. Thus the aptly named “Dark ‘n’ Stormy” cocktail, a favorite of the sailing set from Bermuda to up and along the coast of the eastern states.
It consists of rum and ginger beer, and maybe, just maybe, a splash of lime. But it can’t be just any old rum. Dark rum is a necessity, and if you want to make the drink true and proper, it must be Gosling’s black rum.
The rum is often served floating on top, mimicking a stormy sky. The first thing any seasoned Dark-n-Stormy drinker will do, however, is stir it up. It is also officially served in a highball glass, though for those of us who love the drink, any glass will do.
If you’ve spent any amount of time with me, you’ll know I’m not much of a drinker. (Cheap date!) But I find it very hard to turn down a Dark n Stormy.
I had one for the first time several years ago visiting my friends Ann and Nick in Annisquam, Mass, a village outside of Gloucester, right on the water by Lobster cove. This is a drink for breezy days by the ocean, with sailboats and salty air.
Do you like Dark n Stormy’s? If so, with lime juice or without? (I prefer it with.) And do you have a favorite brand of ginger beer to go with it?
Dark and Stormy Recipe
- Prep time: 1 minute
- Yield: Makes one drink
The official Dark ‘n’ Stormy uses only Gosling’s black rum. If you don’t have Goslings, use a dark rum.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1/4 lime, cut into two thick slices, one for garnish, one to squeeze over the ice (optional)
- 2 ounces Gosling’s Black Seal Bermuda black rum
- 4 ounces ginger beer (Gosling’s makes one just for this purpose)
Method
Fill a tall glass (preferably a highball glass) with ice. If using lime, squeeze a slice over the ice. Add the ginger beer. Top the ginger beer with the rum (for effect) and place a slice of lime on the rim of the glass for a garnish.
Links:
The Right Stuff (by Law) – All about the Dark and Stormy in the New York Times
