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Bermuda

Dark and Stormy

Also known as Dark 'n' Stormy, Dark n Stormy

A tall, fizzy mix of dark rum and spicy ginger beer that goes down easy but hits with real warmth.

gingerrummolassesspicytallfizzyhighballsummerbermuda

%

ABV

Difficulty

Dark and Stormy

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is sweet and spicy from the ginger beer, with a sharp carbonation bite. Mid-palate, the heavy, molasses-rich rum cuts through the sweetness with deep caramel and faint burnt sugar notes. The finish is warming and slightly lingering, with the ginger spice fading out slow.

Who will like it

Great for people who like the spicy bite of ginger and prefer their sweet drinks backed up with some heavy, rich rum character.

When to drink

This is a hot weather day-drinking classic—serve it up at a barbecue or on a porch when you want something cold but not wimpy.

Ordering tip

Ask for it with a specific dark rum if the bar has options, since the house pour might be lighter and less flavorful than you want.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: HighballBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a simple, sweet, and spicy drink that leans heavily on the ginger beer for its kick. The dark rum adds a heavy, molasses-rich weight that sits underneath the fizz, giving it more backbone than a standard highball. It is not a complicated drink, but the contrast between the sharp ginger and the deep, earthy rum keeps it interesting. The lime, if you use it, just lifts the whole thing up a bit so it does not feel syrupy.

Finish: The finish is short and warming, with the ginger spice fading out and leaving a sticky molasses sweetness on the tongue.

Primary tastes

sweetspicyearthy

Secondary

soursmoky

Aroma

gingermolasseslime zest
  • Bitternesslow bitterness

    The ginger beer adds a faint dry spice, but there is no real bitter component in the drink.

  • Sweetnessfairly sweet

    The ginger beer and the molasses notes in the dark rum both push this firmly into sweet territory.

  • Sournesslow acidity

    A squeeze of lime gives a slight tart edge, but the drink is not sour by any means.

  • Strengthmoderate strength

    The tall glass and mixer volume keep the alcohol noticeable but mellow, making it easy to sip.

  • Refreshingvery refreshing

    Cold, highly carbonated, and served over lots of ice, this is a drink built for hot weather.

  • Smokinesslight smokiness

    Dark rums often have a faint burnt sugar or char note that reads as a subtle smokiness.

  • Complexitylow complexity

    It is a straightforward two-ingredient mix where the rum and ginger beer do all the talking without much nuance.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Highball · equal parts on Dark Rum. Goslings Black Seal is the traditional standard, but any rich, dark Jamaican or Demerara rum works well.

Before you start

Pull a tall glass from the cabinet and grab your ginger beer from the fridge—the colder the ginger beer, the less ice melt you will get.

Ingredients

  • Dark RumBase SpiritGoslings Black Seal is the traditional standard, but any rich, dark Jamaican or Demerara rum works well.60ml
  • Ginger BeerSodaUse a spicy ginger beer, not ginger ale; you need that strong bite to stand up to the rum.120ml
  • Lime JuiceoptionalJuiceA squeeze of fresh lime brightens the drink and cuts the sweetness, though some strict recipes leave it out.15ml
  • Lime WedgeGarnish1 piece

Garnish: Lime wedge

Tools

  • Jigger · Measuring

    Measuring the rum and lime juice so the drink doesn't end up too sweet or too weak.

    At home: A shot glass or measuring spoon

  • Bar Spoon · Mixing

    Stirring gently to mix the rum and ginger beer without destroying the carbonation.

    At home: A long dinner knife or chopstick

  • Highball Glass · Serving

    Holding the drink and ice; its tall shape keeps the layers visible and fits the volume.

    At home: Any tall glass tumbler or pint glass

Ingredients and tools to make Dark and Stormy
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Fill a highball glass to the top with ice cubes. You want a full glass of ice so the drink stays cold and the layers hold up longer.

    Step 1 — how to make Dark and Stormy

    !Under-filling the glass with ice, which makes the drink warm up fast and dilute quickly.

  2. 2

    Pour 120ml of cold ginger beer over the ice. Give it a moment to settle and let the fizz calm down so you have room for the rum.

    Step 2 — how to make Dark and Stormy

    !Pouring the ginger beer too fast and overflowing the glass with foam.

  3. 3

    If you are using lime juice, squeeze 15ml of fresh lime over the ginger beer and drop the spent shell right in. It adds a sharp edge that cuts through the sweetness of the ginger beer.

    Step 3 — how to make Dark and Stormy

    !Using bottled lime juice, which tastes flat and metallic compared to fresh.

  4. 4

    Slowly pour 60ml of dark rum over the back of your bar spoon so it floats on top of the ginger beer. You will see a dark layer sitting above the lighter ginger beer—this is the storm cloud look you want.

    Step 4 — how to make Dark and Stormy

    !Pouring the rum too fast so it sinks and mixes immediately, ruining the layered look.

  5. 5

    Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim of the glass. Serve it right away while the layers are still visible and the drink is fully carbonated.

    Step 5 — how to make Dark and Stormy

    !Stirring the drink before serving, which mixes the layers and defeats the whole presentation.

Serve

Serve it as-is and let the drinker stir it themselves—that way they get the visual of the dark rum cloud before they mix it into the ginger beer.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Dark Rum

  • Dark RumAged Jamaican Rum
    Match
    Common availability

    Dark Rum → Aged Jamaican Rum: Adds a funkier, fruitier ester profile that makes the drink taste more tropical and punchy.

  • Dark RumDemerara Rum
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Dark Rum → Demerara Rum: Brings a deeper, richer burnt sugar and tobacco note that makes the drink heavier and more earthy.

Swap options for Ginger Beer

  • Ginger BeerGinger Ale
    Match
    Common availability

    Ginger Beer → Ginger Ale: Much sweeter and less spicy, making the drink taste flat and syrupy without the sharp ginger bite.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Moscow Mule

Similar cocktail

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule uses vodka instead of dark rum, making it lighter and sharper without the molasses sweetness.

Match

The Moscow Mule drinks crisper and drier because the vodka disappears into the ginger beer, while the Dark and Stormy sits heavier with a thick, sweet rum backbone.

In common: tall and fizzy, ginger-forward, built over ice

Ingredients

Both share

Ginger Beer, Lime Juice

Only in Dark and Stormy

Dark Rum

Only in Moscow Mule

Vodka

Swapping dark rum for vodka removes the heavy, sweet molasses notes and leaves a cleaner, sharper ginger and lime drink.

Flavor

Shared flavors

spicy ginger bite, citrus brightness, high carbonation

How Moscow Mule differs

lighter body, no molasses sweetness, sharper finish

View recipe & details →

Ginger Daiquiri

Similar cocktail

Ginger Daiquiri

The Ginger Daiquiri is a short, shaken sour using ginger syrup instead of carbonated ginger beer.

Match

The Ginger Daiquiri hits you with a concentrated, boozy punch of rum and ginger, while the Dark and Stormy is a lighter, easy-drinking sipper.

In common: rum and lime base, ginger flavor

Ingredients

Both share

Dark Rum, Lime Juice

Only in Dark and Stormy

Ginger Beer

Only in Ginger Daiquiri

Ginger Syrup

Replacing the fizzy ginger beer with ginger syrup concentrates the ginger flavor but removes the tall, refreshing carbonation.

Flavor

Shared flavors

rum sweetness, lime tartness, ginger spice

How Ginger Daiquiri differs

shorter and stronger, no fizz, sweeter and more syrupy

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The drink originated in Bermuda after World War II, when the Gosling Brothers rum company began blending and bottling their own dark rum. Local sailors and residents mixed it with the popular Barritt's ginger beer, and the name reportedly came from a sailor who said the dark rum floating in the cloudy ginger beer looked like a storm cloud.

Creator
Gosling Brothers
Era
1940s
IBA
Contemporary Classics
Data version
IBA contemporary classic spec
Confidence

Goslings holds a trademark on the Dark 'n' Stormy name when made with their rum, so bars sometimes list it under a different name.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Chill the ginger beer before making the drink so the ice melts slower.
  • Float the rum slowly off the back of a spoon to get that layered look.
  • Let your guests stir the drink themselves so they see the dark cloud first.
  • Use a spicy ginger beer like Fever-Tree or Bundaberg for the best bite.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Do not use ginger ale, it is too sweet and lacks the spicy kick.
  • Do not stir the drink before serving, it ruins the layered presentation.
  • Do not skip the fresh lime, it cuts the sweetness better than nothing.