Dark And Stormy Cocktail Recipe
If you are a rum drinker, chances are you have heard of a dark and stormy. It's similar to a Moscow mule, since it's made with ginger beer, but instead of using vodka, you use dark rum as the alcoholic base. According to CNN, the unofficial drink of Bermuda got its name from a sailor who thought that the beverage's color looked similar to storm clouds.
Recipe developer Jennine Rye came up with this all-time classic drink recipe that's incredibly easy to make at home. "I am personally a huge fan of ginger beer, and I love the combination of dark rum and ginger — I think they are a match made in spicy heaven. It's super quick, easy, and delicious, and it isn't too sweet, which I like," Rye says. "I find that cocktails can end up being a little sickly with sweetness. Sometimes, sugar syrup is added to this drink to sweeten it up, so for people who prefer sweeter drinks, [so] that is a great option."
"This is a great cocktail to throw together at home, if you have a few friends over or for a bigger party," she says. "I especially enjoy this cocktail in the autumn and winter months because it has a really warming dark and spicy kick to it." Keep reading to find out how to make this delicious cocktail.
Gather the ingredients for this dark and stormy cocktail
The beauty of most cocktail recipes is that there are only a few ingredients that go into them. For this drink, you will need dark rum, ginger beer, a large lime, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. We would suggest using a dark Caribbean rum, such as Goslings or Myers's, but any dark rum will suffice.
Once you have those items, you can play bartender, and make this delicious dark and stormy cocktail.
Prep the glasses
If you have them, grab 2 tall tumblers to mix, and serve the cocktail in. "This drink is often also served in metal tumblers in the U.K.," Rye notes. "For this cocktail, the best type of glass is going to be something longer and thinner, due to the fizz factor; carbonated drinks typically keep their bubbles longer in glasses with a smaller mouth."
Fill the glasses with ice first. Then, quarter the lime, and juice 1 lime wedge into each glass.
Add the ginger beer and bitters
Now, evenly divide the ginger beer between the 2 glasses. Once you do that, add a few dashes of the Angostura bitters into each glass.
One thing to note is that "A typical "dash" of angostura bitters is about 6 to 8 drops," Rye says. "The bottles tend to come with a handy drop dispenser, so you don't accidentally add too much. They are a very small addition, but they add a wonderful depth of flavor to the finished drink."
Top the drink with rum, and garnish
Pour the rum slowly over the ginger beer and ice to create a layered effect. Slice a slit in the other 2 lime wedges, and add them to each glass to garnish.
"The taste of this drink is predominately warm and spiced. The ginger beer gives it a sweet, fiery kick which is enhanced by the bitterness and the spices of the Angostura bitters," she raves. "The dark rum gives more warmth, spice, and depth, and the lime gives the drink that finishing touch of brightness and freshness."
Serve and enjoy
Now that you have added the garnish to each beverage, you can finally clink your glass, and take a sip.
"I personally think this drink pairs best with snacks, rather than being served alongside a meal. It's great to enjoy alongside finger foods like olives and salted pretzels, or foods with equally strong and spiced flavors," Rye notes. "My personal favorite, which may be a little bit odd, is lebkuchen. They have such a strong spiced flavor that it isn't overpowered by the cocktail flavor. Strong cheeses might be a good, savory alternative."
We hope this dark and stormy cocktail hits the spot!
- ½ large lime, quartered
- 8 ounces ginger beer
- 6 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 3 ounces dark rum
- Fill 2 tall tumblers with ice, and then squeeze 1 lime wedge into each glass.
- Divide the ginger beer between the glasses, then shake a few dashes of Angostura bitters into each tumbler.
- Pour the rum over ginger beer, letting it create a layered effect, then add the other lime segments as a garnish to each glass. Serve immediately.
| Calories per Serving | 147 |
| Total Fat | 0.0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.0 |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 12.2 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.6 g |
| Total Sugars | 10.2 g |
| Sodium | 8.8 mg |
| Protein | 0.1 g |
