The Dark and Stormy is the only cocktail whose recipe is legally trademarked (Gosling's owns the "Dark 'n Stormy" name, with their dark rum required). Make it with another dark rum and technically it is not a Dark 'n Stormy, but it is still the same drink, and it is still excellent.
Ingredients
- Dark rum 60ml (Gosling's Black Seal is the trademarked choice; Plantation Original Dark or Myers's work)
- Fresh lime juice 15ml
- Ginger beer (proper, not ginger ale) ~100ml to top
- Lime wedge to garnish
Method
- Fill a highball with ice.
- Add lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Float the dark rum on top by pouring slowly over the back of a spoon. The rum should sit on the surface and slowly streak down through the lighter liquid below.
- Garnish with a lime wedge. Do not stir, the layer is the visual.
The float
The float is what makes this drink. The rum slowly bleeds down through the ginger beer in dark plumes, creating the "stormy" visual that gives the drink its name.
To get the float right: pour very slowly over the back of an inverted bar spoon held just above the surface. Let the rum cascade gently rather than dropping straight down.
Stir only after the first sip, by which point you have seen the visual.
Why dark rum specifically
The Dark and Stormy needs an aged dark rum with heavy molasses character. White rum or light gold rum disappears in the ginger beer. The "dark" is doing both visual and flavour work.
Gosling's Black Seal is the canonical choice. If you cannot get it: Plantation Original Dark, Myers's Original Dark, Pusser's Black Label. Cruzan Black Strap also works for a more aggressive version.
Variations
Stormy Daiquiri: add 15ml simple syrup. Sweeter, less spice-forward.
Painkiller-Stormy hybrid: use the Painkiller base (rum + pineapple + orange + coconut cream) and float dark rum on top. Sweeter and more tropical.
Penicillin-style Dark and Stormy: add 10ml honey-ginger syrup to the lime. Adds more ginger depth.
Related
- Moscow Mule (vodka version)
- All cocktails
- Rum types explained
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Dark and Stormy served in?
A tall highball glass, built directly with plenty of ice, with the dark rum floated last over an inverted bar spoon. The tall format is necessary for the float visual; the rum sits on top and bleeds down through the ginger beer in plumes. A rocks glass loses the layered display entirely.
Can I substitute the Gosling's Black Seal?
Gosling's owns the trademarked Dark and Stormy name; technically only their rum makes the registered drink. Plantation Original Dark, Myers's Original Dark, Pusser's Black Label, or Cruzan Black Strap are excellent substitutes. Avoid white rum or light gold rum; they disappear in the ginger beer and lose the dark visual.
How strong is the Dark and Stormy?
Medium. About 13 to 16 percent ABV in the glass. The 60ml of dark rum (40 percent) is the only alcohol; the ginger beer (non-alcoholic) and lime stretch the volume. Drinks easy because of the ginger sweetness; the rum opens up as the float blends downward. The second half tastes notably stronger.
Where can I order a Dark and Stormy in PJ or KL?
At Dissolved Solids (Damansara Kim, 43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue-Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) or Soluble Solids (SS2, 50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed-Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both keep proper ginger beer (not ginger ale) and dark rum in service. We pour with the float by default.
What food pairs with the Dark and Stormy?
Asian and Caribbean food. Char siu, sushi rolls, jerk chicken, curry laksa, beef rendang. Also pairs with sticky-glazed wings or any spicy-sweet dish. The ginger beer matches Asian aromatics (galangal, lemongrass, ginger) and the dark rum holds up to richer braised meats. Avoid delicate seafood.