Dark N Stormy Cocktail Recipe

Step into the world of the Dark N Stormy Cocktail—a timeless and widely loved drink. It's famous as the national drink of Bermuda and can be found on bar menus worldwide. The Dark 'n Stormy is a go-to for various events, whether it's a romantic date night, a holiday party, or even a stormy night! It's made in the glass with just 4 simple ingredients.

Dark n stormy cocktails with a wedge of lime, Goslings black seal rum, and palm fronds in the background.

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Disclosure: This recipe was originally posted on December 2nd, 2016, and was republished with new photos and an updated recipe on December 29th, 2023.

This popular cocktail only requires four ingredients to make, and it's absolutely delicious. It's perfect for serving at parties, during holiday get-togethers, or just sipping alone on your patio or front porch.

Looking for more yummy cocktail recipes to serve at your next party? Try this pear martini recipe, this Aperol sour recipe, or this love potion cocktail.

If you want more ginger beer cocktails, try this raspberry mule, this Floradora cocktail, or this pomegranate gin cocktail!

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❤️Why we love this recipe
🍹Ingredients
✨Substitutions
✨Variations
🔪Prep work
📋Instructions
✨Tips & tricks
💭Frequently Asked Questions
More Cocktail Recipes To Consider
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

❤️Why we love this recipe

Super easy. The Dark 'n Stormy stands out as one of the simplest cocktails, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and anyone who is craving a classic drink! It's made with only 4 simple ingredients, and it comes together in a glass. No shaking required!
Rich and flavorful. You'll love the rich, flavorful notes of dark rum, complemented by the spicy kick of ginger beer. It's a stormy experience for your taste buds that mirrors the color of a cloud in a highball glass.
Classic drink. There's a reason this drink is an iconic classic! This drink is over 100 years old and is a popular choice worldwide. It's simple, yet always delicious. You can't go wrong with this choice.

🍹Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

Dark rum. Goslings Black Seal Rum is the traditional rum used for this drink. If you don't have Gosling's rum, you can use another dark rum, but it is now "technically" not a Dark n' stormy.
Ginger beer. Make sure it's well chilled. Use anything you like here. We had Fever Tree on hand.
Orange bitters. This is an optional ingredient, but it adds another layer of subtle flavor to the drink.

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

Ginger ale. Swap ginger beer for ginger ale if you prefer a milder taste. Please note that this will essentially give you a different drink entirely, as the ginger beer in this recipe is pretty integral to the taste.
Mocktail. Use a rum alternative (non-alcoholic rum) in place of dark rum.
Low carb and keto friendly. All you have to use a diet or sugar-free ginger beer in place of regular ginger beer to significantly cut down on the added carbs and sugar.
Rum options. While Gosling's Black Seal Rum is the classic choice, experiment with spiced rum for a twist.

✨Variations

Moscow mule version. Try a Dark 'n Stormy mule in a copper mug with spicier ginger beer and extra lime juice.
Aromatic bitters. Enhance the flavor with a dash of aromatic bitters instead of orange bitters. You can also omit the bitters entirely.
Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer. Elevate your experience with the distinctive taste of Gosling's Stormy Ginger Beer.
Make it fancier. Use some fun-shaped ice cubes, like balls or diamonds, to make this drink even more fun to look at.
Extra sweetness. Take the flavor up a notch by adding some simple syrup to the drink.

🔪Prep work

Make sure to chill the ginger beer and rum.
Squeeze lime juice.
Cut lime wheels, wedges, or slices for garnish.
Measure out all remaining ingredients.

📋Instructions

Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice cubes. Pour in the ginger beer. (Image 1)

hand pouring ginger beer into a high ball glass filled with ice and rum in the background.

✨Pro Tip: Make sure the ginger beer is well chilled.

Add in a dash of orange bitters (if using). (Image 2)

hand pouring bitters into a high ball glass filled with ice and ginger beer, with rum in the background.

Pour the Goslings rum over the back of a spoon to float it on top of the drink and create layers that mimic a dark and stormy sky! (Image 3)

hand pouring dark rum over the back of a bar spoon in a highball glass to make a dark n stormy.

Add in a squeeze of lime over the top. (Image 4)

The drink should have a layered look, with the dark rum on the top and the ginger beer on the bottom.

hand squeezing lime into a dark n stormy cocktail.

Garnish with a slice or a wedge of lime. Before enjoying, gently stir to mix the ingredients so they can come together. Enjoy!

Dark n stormy cocktail in a high ball glass and unmixed with Goslings rum in the background.

✨Tips & tricks

If possible, use Gosling's Black Seal Rum. This is the traditional choice for this classic cocktail. Goslings is technically the only rum that can make this a true dark n' stormy, as they are the creators of this drink.
Always use freshly squeezed lime juice. This cocktail has so few ingredients, but they all count. Fresh lime juice will make all the difference in this drink.
Use a good ginger beer that you enjoy the taste of. It has a large impact on the taste of the drink!
Use fresh ice. Make sure you have good ice to use for this drink that hasn’t been sitting in the freezer for a long time. Old ice can soak up the scents of the items around it, making for a weird-tasting drink!
Balance the flavors and taste and adjust. The key to a great Dark 'n Stormy is the balance between the spiciness of the ginger beer and the richness of the dark rum. Adjust the ratios to your personal preference if desired.

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💭Frequently Asked Questions

How to store the leftovers?

This drink is best enjoyed fresh, so prepare the Dark N Stormy just before serving. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for a few hours, but it won't taste as good as it does fresh as the ice will melt and water down the drink. The ginger beer will also lose fizz as it sits.

Can I make this cocktail into a pitcher?

Yes! If serving a crowd, this drink can be made in a pitcher. Simply follow all of the same instructions as you would if making the drink in a glass, and scale it up for the amount of drinks you need. Right before serving, give the pitcher a good stir, and pour into individual glasses.

More Cocktail Recipes To Consider

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