Dark ’n Stormy

The Dark ’n Stormy is a delicious, easy-to-make cocktail that features a refreshing trio of dark rum, ginger beer and lime. It also goes down a lot easier than the name might imply. It’s a close cousin to the Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer, lime) and should be an easy transition for vodka drinkers wanting to try something new.

The popular cocktail can be found all over the world, from craft cocktail bars and chain restaurants to island hideaways. Its origin, like many drinks, is a bit hazy, though it’s likely that rum and ginger beer were first combined by sailors who enjoyed the obvious benefits of rum and the stomach-settling qualities of ginger. But its lineage can be traced squarely to an island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Gosling’s Black Seal rum is a rich, flavorful rum from Bermuda, dating back to 1806. It features notes of caramel, vanilla and spice, and technically, it’s the only rum that can be used in a Dark ’n Stormy. The brand lays claim to the drink; in 1991, it successfully registered a trademark dictating that any drink titled Dark ’n Stormy must be made with Gosling's rum. The company has even sued other beverage brands that have attempted to peddle the drink with other rums as its star. So, if you really want the full Dark ’n Stormy experience, make it with Gosling’s.

Note that ginger ale is not a substitute for ginger beer. Ginger ale is just carbonated water that’s flavored with ginger, like a soda. Ginger beer, on the other hand, is brewed and fermented (though the “beer” label can be misleading, as most versions are nonalcoholic). If you try making your Dark ’n Stormy with ginger ale, you’ll still produce a solid drink. But the rich rum benefits from the stronger flavors and spicier bite of real ginger beer.

Many recipes, including this one, call for a modest measure of lime juice to be added to the rum and ginger beer, which lends a pleasant kick of citrus. But the lime juice is optional. If you’re drinking in Bermuda, the cocktail will most likely be served with just rum and ginger beer, plus a lime wedge, so the drinker can squeeze the lime at their discretion. But any way it’s served, the Dark ’n Stormy is tasty and refreshing, so it’s hard to go wrong.

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