There’s no denying that winter is well and truly here. We saw the first blanket of snow on Sunday and a brief flurry today. In these icy conditions it is easy to reach for a traditional winter cocktail or liquor. Today Midweek Libations breaks from the expected to present the Dark ‘n’ Stormy, a cocktail that is both a classic summer drink and one that I feel is a great winter warmer. A Dark and Stormy (or Dark 'n' Stormy) is a ‘long’ rum-based drink popular in many British Commonwealth countries, and is considered the national drink of Bermuda. The ‘Dark’ naturally refers to the hue of the rum used and the ‘Stormy’ describes the bubbly tempest of the ginger beer.
Made famous by Gosling’s Rum in Bermuda, a Dark 'n' Stormy is basically dark rum spiced up with ginger beer. Dark 'n' Stormy is actually a registered trademark of Gosling's Brothers Limited in Bermuda and they dictate that the name can only be applied when their rum is used. It is essential to use a good quality ginger beer in this recipe. Ginger beer, the forerunner of ginger ale, is a highly effervescent, intensely flavored soda made from fresh ginger. The beauty of this brooding drink lies in the snap of the real ginger beer. Barritts, a Bermudian brand, has the essential bite without a burn, and is almost always used as the base for the Dark 'n' Stormy at bars and restaurants in Bermuda.
Fill a tall highball glass with fresh cracked ice. Squeeze the juice of quarter of a lime over the ice in the glass and drop the wedge into the glass. Pour 2 measures of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum into the glass. (if you are not able to get hold of Gosling’s, use any good quality dark rum like Myers or a golden rum like Appleton Estate) Top up the glass with a good quality ginger beer of your choice. Stir lightly and garnish with a lime wedge and pieces of candied ginger.
One fan of the drink once stated that they like how the name of the cocktail implies impending doom, and the short time they have with their drink is a ‘before-the-storm’ appreciation of life. Enjoy.
Thank you RJH! If you have missed any of the past Midweek Libations, you can catch them all HERE .
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