Here we have another classic cocktail. Rum, ginger beer, lime, bitters (those last two are optional). Nothing wrong with that!
The Dark and Stormy is the national drink of Bermuda, and is therefore typically made with Gosling’s Black Seal rum, which hails from the island. In fact, Gosling’s owns the trademark on the name, so if you want the real experience, that’s the brand to go with. However, you can substitute in any dark rum, or even go with a nice, aged, golden rum. I won’t tell anyone.
You don’t want to use regular ginger ale here (though it’ll work in a pinch). Ginger beer is much more flavorful and spicy — sometimes really spicy, with a lot of ginger burn, which is how I like it in this drink. The cocktail renaissance has brought a wide variety of brands to the market. Sample a few and find one that matches your preferences.
This article is a modified and enhanced version of a post that ran on my nightly cocktail blog, DrinkShouts. Liquors in parentheses are what I used when I made this recipe, and are included as suggestions.
The Dark And Stormy Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Bar spoon
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Dark rum Gosling’s Black Seal
- .25 oz. Fresh lime juice
- Dash aromatic bitters The Bitter Truth
- Ginger beer Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew
- Lime wedge Garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice and add rum, lime juice, and bitters. Stir to combine and top with ginger beer, stirring gently. Garnish with a lime wedge. For extra presentation points, hold off on adding the rum until the very end, and pour it gently in. It will float on top, like storm clouds over the sea.
