A toast to the history of Bermuda’s unofficial drink
You know the Dark and Stormy if you take part in the boating life.
It’s a highball that originated in the shipwreck capital of the world. The Dark and Stormy is a go-to in Bermuda and any port where seafarers and lake legends alike raise a glass. It got its name from a grizzled old sailor who likened its dim tints to storm clouds lurking on the horizon.
Is that true? It doesn't matter. But if you want the true Dark and Stormy experience, use Gosling’s Black Seal rum. An English captain who conquered Bermuda's razor-sharp coral reefs in 1806 invented it after he decided to make the island his home — and produce his famous rum. James Gosling's English vessel charter was up, anyway.
It was only a matter of time before ginger beer, another British favorite in Bermuda, joined dark rum in a glass.
Dark and Stormy ingredients:
- 2 ounces of dark rum (Gosling’s Black Seal rum, by tradition)
- 4-5 ounces of ginger beer
- Lime
Dark and Stormy recipe:
Fill a Collins glass (or highball glass — how thirsty are you?) with cubed ice. Add ginger beer first, then rum, for that contrast you see in the pictures. If this feels like a Moscow Mule, it’s for obvious reasons. No vodka here, though. Because of trademarks, you might find the Dark and Stormy on menus as Safe Harbor or other clever alternatives.
Sailor’s tip: stir the drink before sipping. Otherwise, you’ll get 100% rum.
Some like a lime wedge or wheel garnish. A squeeze of lime on top blends rum’s vanilla flavor with ginger beer's fruity taste.
Next time you’re gathering your friends for good times, mix up the easiest cocktail you’ll ever love. No barkeep skills are required. Whether you’re crossing the rhumb line or just the cul-de-sac, it’s worth the journey.