Born in Bermuda, the internationally adored Dark ‘n Stormy embodies everything we love about rum cocktails. It’s delightfully refreshing, especially on a cloudless summer day when you’re luxuriating poolside or whipping up your favorite kebab recipes on the grill. But summer vibes aside, the molasses-like depth of dark rum makes this cocktail equally delicious when the temperatures dip.
While the cocktail offers plenty of complex flavor, the classic Dark ‘n Stormy recipe is simple. It requires no more and no less than three ingredients: Goslings Black Seal dark rum, lime juice and a sweet, spicy hit of earthy ginger beer. Like other classic rum drinks it’s open to variation, with spiced rum making an excellent substitute for the dark rum.
What are the origins of the Dark ‘n Stormy?
Goslings’ Bermudian roots can be traced to 1806, but it wasn’t until 1860 that the distiller created its iconic black rum. As with most classic cocktail recipes, the details are a little murky. At some point in post-World War I Bermuda, British sailors combined home-brewed ginger beer, then a popular cure for relieving seasickness, with rum, birthing a new libation. As for the moniker “Dark ‘n Stormy,” according to lore, a nameless sailor is said to have likened the drink to storm clouds—the kind one sails into but never out of.
Like the Sazerac and the Painkiller, the Dark ‘n Stormy name is a registered trademark. Technically, you can only make a true Dark ‘n Stormy with Goslings Black Seal rum; use anything else, and you’re sipping on a rum and ginger.
Ingredients for Dark ‘n Stormy
- Dark rum: The caramel-driven, smoky, molasses-forward flavors pair beautifully with ginger beer’s bold spice.
- Lime juice: With only three ingredients, the secret to a great-tasting Dark ‘n Stormy is quality ingredients. Use freshly squeezed lime juice for your cocktails for the best, most vibrant flavor.
- Ginger beer: The spiciness of ginger beer is key to a killer Dark ‘n Stormy. Ginger ale just won’t cut it. If you’ve purchased a pack and don’t love the Dark ‘n Stormy, there are plenty of other ginger beer drinks to try—like the Moscow mule.
Directions
Step 1: Assemble the Dark ‘n Stormy
Fill a cocktail shaker three-fourths with ice. Add the rum and lime juice, and shake well for 10 to 15 seconds or until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.
Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice.
Editor’s Tip: If you love citrus as much as I do, a heavy-handed slug of lime juice into the cocktail shaker makes a Dark n’ Stormy doubly delicious.
Step 2: Add the ginger beer and garnish
Top with ginger beer and stir to combine. Garnish the Dark ‘n Stormy with a lime wedge.
Dark ‘n Stormy Variations
- Use another type of rum: Spiced rum works well in a Dark ‘n Stormy, mainly because the spice mirrors ginger beer’s fiery profile. For those who prefer a lighter tipple, try white rum and ginger beer.
- Mix up a Dark ‘n Stormy cider: This variation adds 2 ounces of apple cider. Hard cider or non-alcoholic cider? The choice is yours.
- Make a Dark ‘n Stormy mocktail: Because the Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail recipe has just three ingredients, you might think turning it into a mocktail would be impossible. Not so. Instead of rum, try pineapple juice, black tea or a spiced gingerbread simple syrup.
Can you make Dark ‘n Stormy cocktails ahead of time?
Along with its bold, sweetly spiced flavor, part of the Dark ‘n Stormy’s appeal is the fizz. You can pre-batch Dark ‘n Stormy cocktails for a party, but don’t make them too far in advance to keep the cocktail from going flat. Up to an hour before serving is the sweet spot. Or mix the rum and lime juice ahead of time and add the ginger beer and ice to each glass as you serve it.
Dark ‘n Stormy Tips
What kind of glass should you use for a Dark ‘n Stormy?
Highball or Collins glasses are the best cocktail glasses for a Dark ‘n Stormy. When you’re short on highball glasses, grab a few Mason jars instead.
What’s the best rum for a Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail?
Dark rum is the best rum for a Dark ‘n Stormy drink recipe. The original recipe explicitly calls for Goslings Black Seal rum, but bottles with similar rich, brooding, warm notes make perfect substitutes when mixing rum and ginger beer. Look into Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Don Q Reserva 7, Brugal Extra Viejo or Plantation brand rums.
Folks who enjoy spiced rum in their Dark ‘n Stormys should check out Kraken Black Spiced, Chairman’s Reserve Spiced, Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced or Bayou Spiced rums.
What can you serve with a Dark ‘n Stormy?
The Dark ‘n Stormy isn’t a shy cocktail by any means. There’s so much going on between the smoky, burnt-sugar sweetness of the dark rum, the gingery spice and the zesty lime juice. The best food pairings for a Dark ‘n Stormy are those that match the its intensity. Try the melting-pot flavors in Caribbean jerk chicken, curry goat or Puerto Rican pernil.
Similarly, the aromatic spices in Thai, Mexican and Indian cuisines feel tailor-made for the Dark ‘n Stormy. Think fish tacos, samosas, ceviche or larb gai. Closer to home, smoky barbecue dishes like brisket or smoked pork butt served with a side of smoked mac and cheese hit all the right notes.
