Skip to main content

How To Make a Dark and Stormy, the Rum-Centric Sibling of the Moscow Mule

Boozy Rum Dark and Stormy Cocktail with LIme.

Is there a more evocative cocktail than the Dark and Stormy? The name alone sends you to a warm but restless ocean, a thunderstorm overhead.

Now, before you think you’ve been there and done that, ask yourself this: Did your Dark and Stormy involve fresh ginger? Was it made with the right kind or combination of rum? If you’re not exactly sure, read on. We’re here to make sure your next take on the tropical classic is as good as it can be.

Related Videos

Simply put, the cocktail is essentially the rum-centric sibling of the Moscow Mule. It has become so popular that a version of the name has actually been trademarked since 1991 (by the Gosling rum empire). Its origins go back generations, to among the palm fronds and beaches of Bermuda. There, in the 19th century, as the British Royan Navy often occupied the area, the drink came to be. Legend has it, some enterprising officers whipped up sizable batches of ginger beer to be served with the region’s ever-popular dark rum.

Related Reading

How exactly the two complementary liquids ended up being mixed together is anyone’s guess. It could have been the work of a wasted sailor or an astute local bartender. Rum, of course, was everywhere in those parts, so that part made sense. The ginger beer, many believe, came about as both an alternative to potentially suspect water and as a cure for seasickness. Regardless of how the two actually met, the combo continues to be wildly popular, well beyond Bermuda.

Alicia Perry makes an exceptional Dark and Stormy at her San Diego bar, Polite Provisions. There, the recipe calls for a full two ounces of black rum. “I personally enjoy splitting that base with Hamilton’s Demerara Rum,” she says. “The combination of the two spirits brings forth notes of burnt cane, vanilla, and brown spice.” The pot-stilled rum hails from Guyana along the Demerara River.

Another important aspect is the inclusion of ginger. It’s best, as Perry prescribes, to go with a ginger syrup and use it in tandem with soda water. It follows suit with what the classic original recipe calls for. Perry dubs it the “a la minute” ginger beer, as it’s quick to whip up and doesn’t involve too much labor (see below). The end result with be fresher tasting and really emphasize the kick genuine ginger can offer.

“If you are unable to make the ginger syrup, I would suggest utilizing 4 ounces of Fentiman’s Ginger Beer in place of the ginger syrup and soda water,” she says.

Dark and Stormy

  • 1 ounce Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
  • 1 ounce Hamilton’s Demerara Rum
  • .75 ounce lime juice
  • .75 ounce house-made ginger syrup*
  • 3 ounces Topo Chico (or other soda water)
  • lime wheel for garnish

*House Made Ginger Syrup: Mix 4 parts ginger juice (strained of pulp) and 3 parts cane sugar. Whisk vigorously and store in cooler. 

Method: Combine all ingredients (except soda water) into your shaking tin. Shake & Strain over ice into a tall glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a lime wheel. 

Read more: Easy Cocktail Recipes

Editors' Recommendations

The 7 best CBD-infused drinks we tried in 2023
These tasty CBD-infused drinks will have you feeling calmer in no time
Cans o RisEau cbd drinks.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has been hot for a while now, making its way into everything from CBD teas to a variety of CBD coffee brands. If you're wondering "what is CBD?" — it's a naturally occurring compound present in cannabis plants. According to the World Health Organization, it's not addictive, has a solid safety profile, and won't get you high. In clinical trials, it's been effective in the treatment of epilepsy and shows promise in treating a number of other conditions.

In addition to CBD-infused water, tea, soda, and seltzer, another growing trend is CBD-infused nonalcoholic spirits and cocktails. The adult beverage market is flooded with CBD products promising to help you relax, sleep, destress, and mellow out, all without the hangover you'd get from booze (CBD is considered a controlled substance and can't be legally added to booze, at least not yet). We've rounded up a few of our favorite CBD-infused drinks below, from CBD cocktails to CBD water, so you can work your relaxation into your daily routine no matter where you are.

Read more
Here’s how to make a margarita, according to top bartenders
The only margarita recipes you'll ever need
margarita tequila cocktail lime strainer

The best margaritas do not grow on trees, nor do they show up in a can (although there are some tasty canned drinks these days). No, the tastiest version of the tequila classic is made fresh, with love and care and some wisdom from a couple of top bartenders.

It's a balancing act, for sure, but when it's dialed-in, the margarita is one of the best and most refreshing cocktails ever devised. The classic mix of agave spirit, lime, salt, and a touch of sweetness is great alone or with any number of dishes, especially within Mexican cuisine (the nation where the drink was born).

Read more
Expert pitmasters reveal their top tips to make smoked brisket
Expert pitmasters shows us how to make smoked brisket
hill country barbecue market brisket 3

No one can argue that smoked meat is one of the great joys in life. If someone does, immediately unfriend them — they are not worthy of your time. Kidding, but only kind of. And while we love all pieces of smoked meat, from sausages to ribs and beyond, there’s something truly special about biting into a perfect piece of brisket, with its pink smoke ring, flavorful bark, and juicy meat that is just the right texture. While we’ve cooked many briskets in the oven in our day, smoked brisket is a much bigger undertaking, especially if you’re new to the backyard barbecue game.

New York City barbecue has been coming into its own during the past decade, which can be seen in the city’s many meaty festivals that take place every year. (Don't believe us? Check out this episode of Beards, Booze, and Bacon with Arrogant Swine's Tyson Ho.) One such event, Brisket King NYC, which has been going on for over ten years and draws pitmasters from near and far to compete for the best brisket in the city. This year, top pitmasters will be throwing down for the title on April 26, 2023, in what is sure to be a meat-tastic day.

Read more