Dark and Stormy (Bermudian)

The dark 'n stormy is a popular drink from the Caribbean. It's easy to mix up and just as refreshing as any fruity rum drink. If you are a fan of the Moscow mule, then you need to give this cocktail a try. All that's needed to make a great dark 'n stormy is a dark rum with tons of funky flavour and a nice ginger beer. Bermuda's own Gosling's Black Seal Rum and Barritt's Ginger Beer are the original brands of choice, though there are many viable substitutes for each that create an equally tasty drink. Some bartenders add lime juice as well, but it really isn't needed. In fact, if you want this drink in its true Bermudan style, skip the citrus. There are a few versions of how this cocktail came about, but there is one story that seems the most likely. A member of the Gosling family, who were known for making spirits, was sailing from England to Virginia in 1806, but due to a lack of wind, he ended up docking his ship in Bermuda instead. There, he continued his family's tradition and developed Gosling's rum. Several years later, British naval officers created ginger beer as a way to ease seasickness and mixed the beverage with Gosling's rum. It is said that a sailor commented the drink looked like "the colour of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under," and the name "dark 'n stormy" was born. At one point, Gosling's trademarked the dark 'n stormy, which means, legally, it should only be made with their rum.

2 oz dark rum
3 oz ginger beer
½ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed

Garnish:
lime wedge

Build the ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice cubes, adding the lime juice if using.

Garnish with the lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Cook's Notes: Make sure you are using a dark rum for this recipe. One that is rich and flavourful and preferably from the Caribbean will be best. You want to give this cocktail some oomph, and white rum (even a golden aged rum) will simply not create the same background notes.
Do not use a spiced rum in a dark 'n stormy. The ginger beer already has the spice profile covered, and there is no need to repeat it. In fact, it produces a pretty bad drink.

Variation: If you like, try floating the rum on top of the ginger beer to create a layered dark 'n stormy.