Dark and Stormy
There’s smooth sailing ahead with a glass of Dark and Stormy in your hand. This mix of rum, ginger beer & lime is a flavorful island drink!
Why We Love Dark and Stormy Cocktail
- No complicated measuring or cocktail tools are needed to make this Dark and Stormy recipe, you simply pour, mix and enjoy so this is the perfect drink for everyone!
- Floating the dark rum on top before mixing the drink gives this cocktail a really fun and dramatic look.
- The Dark and Stormy is a kissing cousin to the Moscow Mule. So if you love Mules of any kind you’ll love this classic Caribbean cocktail.
- If you’ve been looking for a drink with tons of flavor but few ingredients, this is definitely the drink for you. The sweet and spice-filled notes of the dark rum and the zippy, fresh ginger flavor with hints of sweet and sour lime are perfect together so whether you enjoy sweet drinks or stiff drinks, the Dark n’ Stormy has it all.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy Ingredients
RUM: Without a doubt, the traditional rum to use is Gosling’s dark rum. Other brands can be used, like Kracken. I don’t recommend using other styles of rum, like silver or spiced rum. They lack the robustness of dark rum and would give this cocktail a completely different taste.
GINGER BEER: Pick up your favorite ginger beer to use in this recipe. I like Bad Panda personally, but Crabbies is easy to find at most stores. Bad Panda is labeled as a ginger pale ale, but it’s more of a ginger beer.
LIME: For this recipe, you will need both lime juice and lime wedges.
ICE: Be sure to keep plenty of ice on hand when making these drinks!
How to Make a Dark and Stormy
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Fill a highball or collins glass with ice.
STEP 2 Pour the ginger beer and lime juice into the glass and stir.
STEP 3 Carefully pour the rum into the glass so that it floats on top of the ginger beer, and garnish with a wedge of lime. Admire the storm cloud-like appearance but remember to stir before drinking!
Tips & Tricks
- Ginger soda can be used if you really need to but ginger beer is the best ingredient for this drink. The bite from the ginger beer is amazing with dark rum, which ginger soda is missing but brings a sweet ginger flavor.
- Including lime juice in this drink is optional, but the fresh-squeezed lime juice adds a deliciously bright flavor. So don’t be afraid to try it both ways to see which you like better!
- Floating the rum on top of the beer really makes for a nice presentation and shows how this cocktail got its name. When it comes time to drink a Dark and Stormy though, be sure to mix it up so you don’t get a big sip of rum right up front!
- Keep the rum, ginger beer, and lime juice chilled in the fridge. This helps keep your drink cool longer and helps avoid a watered-down drink from melting ice.
Dark and Stormy Recipe FAQ
What is the history of the Dark and Stormy?
The Dark n Stormy cocktail originated in Bermuda right after World War I. A member of the Gosling family mixed Gosling’s Black Seal rum with a local ginger beer and the rest is history. But legend has it, that a sailor held up the drink and said it was “the color of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under” and the Dark and Stormy drink was born.
What is the best rum for Dark and Stormy?
The Gosling family is not only credited with the creation of the Dark and Stormy, but they also trademarked it too. Trademarking this drink means that in order for a drink to be called Dark and Stormy it must use specific ingredients, which means Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. But at home you can get away with using whatever dark rum you like. Who’s to know?
What is the difference between a Moscow Mule and a Dark and Stormy?
Moscow Mules and Dark and Stormy have the same base ingredients, but use a different spirit.
The Moscow Mule is made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime. It’s served in a copper mug.
A Dark and Stormy is made with rum, ginger beer, and lime. It’s served in tall glass with a lime wedge for garnish. It can also be served as a layered drink that you stir, or you can stir it before serving.
The differences can also be thought of as regional, as vodka is a very Russian spirit, while on the other hand… what’s more Caribbean than rum?
Other Recipes You May like
- Frozen Raspberry Daiquiri
- Pina Colada Rum Punch
- Fish Bowl Cocktail
- Mango Libre
- Hurricane Party Punch
- Rum Soaked Honey Pound Cake
- Salted Butter Rum Caramels
Dark and Stormy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- ½ ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- 2 ounces Goslings Black Seal rum
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Fill the collins glass with ice.
- Pour in the ginger beer and lime juice. Stir to combine.
- Pour the dark rum into the glass. (If you pour carefully, the rum should float on top of the ginger beer.)
- Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve cold and stir before drinking.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.