Rum, ginger, and lime juice marry to create the Dark and Stormy, a flavorful cocktail you’ll love! Great for summer cookouts, this easy cocktail doesn’t require any special mixology skills. It’s sweet and a little spicy with a bright citrusy kick.
Remember to use ginger beer, not ginger ale, for the best dark’ n stormy. You need the hint of spice that plays so well with the rum! For more refreshing rum cocktail recipes, try my mojito recipe, hurricane drink, and zombie cocktail.
What is a Dark’ N’ Stormy?
Hailing from Bermuda, a Dark and Stormy drink is a classic cocktail made with ginger beer, dark rum, and sometimes lime juice. When you float the dark rum on the ginger beer, the drink looks like a dark and stormy sky — hence the name! A Dark’ n’ Stormy is traditionally made with Gosling’s Black Seal rum.
Ingredients
Lime juice — while this ginger beer cocktail often only contains rum and ginger beer with a lime wedge on the side, I find fresh lime juice stirred into it adds a citrusy brightness that’s hard to beat!
Ginger beer — use your favorite ginger beer to make the drink as spicy or as mild as you like.
Rum — dark rum is a must for this recipe, and Gosling’s rum is preferable if you have it.
Garnish — a lime wheel is a simple garnish.
The Best Ginger Beers To Use
Goslings or Barritt’s ginger beer are most commonly used, but Reed’s, Fever Tree, Q, and Bundaberg (a much sweeter option) are also excellent. If you prefer a sharper ginger flavor, choose a spicy ginger beer.
How To Make A Dark and Stormy
1. Fill a highball glass two-thirds full with ice.
2. Add the lime juice.
3. Add the ginger beer and stir gently if you like.
4. Top with rum, garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy.
Variations
- Add a splash of fruit juice: Pineapple juice and orange juice are good options.
- Add bitters: Bitters round out the flavors and add depth to the cocktail’s flavor. You can use any kind you like to adjust the flavor!
- Switch the rum for another liquor: Bourbon or rye whiskey would be fantastic in this drink. (Though, it isn’t technically a Dark and Stormy without dark rum.)
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Chill the glasses before serving. The ice will melt slower, so the drink does not dilute.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, twist of zest, or a wedge of lime.
- To float or not to float? The black rum floating on top of the ginger beer makes an excellent presentation, but it can also be stirred together after being topped with ginger beer.
Frequently Asked Questions
I think the spicy flavor of ginger beer is an integral part of this cocktail, and I wouldn’t swap it for ginger ale, which is artificially flavored with a mild ginger flavor.
Yes! You can use a classic dark spiced rum, such as Kraken or Myer’s.
The main difference between the two cocktails is that a Moscow Mule is made with vodka, while a Dark and Stormy is made with rum. In addition, the squeeze of lime in a Dark and Stormy is optional, but it’s always used in a Moscow Mule.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this dark and stormy recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Dark and Stormy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- 2 ounces dark rum preferably Goslings
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass two-thirds full of ice.
- Add the lime juice and ginger beer to the glass. (Stir gently, if you like).
- Top with the rum and garnish with a lime wheel.
Notes
- Chill the glasses before serving. The ice will melt slower, so the drink does not dilute.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, twist of zest, or a wedge of lime.
- To float or not to float? The black rum floating on top of the ginger beer makes an excellent presentation, but it can also be stirred together after being topped with ginger beer.
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