Dark and Stormy Cocktail ~ an Extraordinary Rum and Ginger Beer Drink

This is a classic dark and stormy cocktail with a delicious Cooks with Cocktails twist.  This gorgeous cocktail from Bermuda is made extra special with a spiced simple syrup that creates layers of flavor that will have your taste buds dancing.

Imagine serving this beauty to friends and family as they arrive at your house for a party.   It’s pretty impressive with three layers and doesn’t it just look so good with all those bubbles in there?!   You know just by looking at it that this one is going to taste good!  Refreshing, fizzy, and slightly sweet and spicy.  SO GOOD

The Cocktail Layers

The secret is that its really easy to make and the layers are even easier to create.  Stick with us and we will show you how.

• bottom layer:  our spiced simple syrup
• middle layer:  fizzy ginger beer
• top layer:  dark rum

History of the Dark and Stormy Cocktail

The dark and stormy cocktail has a long history that dates back to the late 1800’s!  It is one of the true old classic cocktails and its making a come back for a good reason.  Its dang good!

The dark and stormy originated in Bermuda where the Goslings family made a special rum and the British sailors made ginger beer.  Apparently they started brewing ginger beer to combat sea sickness and to try to keep the sailors off the grog.  Eventually the rum and the ginger beer was combined in one glass and because it was so delicious, the flavor combination stuck around.

According to a legend, the cocktail got its famous name from a WWI soldier who said that it was the “color of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under.”  Hence, the Dark and Stormy.

The Classic Recipe

A classic dark and story cocktail is made with 2 oz of Goslings Black Seal Rum and 3 – 4 oz of fizzy ginger beer.  This is a recipe that the Goslings family is fiercely protective of and have gone so far as to trademark the recipe so that to have a true dark and stormy cocktail, it MUST be made with the proper rum.

Our Version of this Cocktail

We have followed the rules in our cocktail in that we have used the Goslings rum and ginger beer, however we veered off the straight and narrow and added a spiced syrup that just enhances the flavors of both the rum and the ginger beer and it makes this cocktail all the more special.

The Spiced Syrup

Our syrup is full of spice!  Vanilla, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and lime to brighten it all up.   Its simmered together in a pot with water and sugar until it becomes all syrupy and fragrant.  Then its strained and set aside to cool.

How to Make the Layers

The rest is easy!  To make the three layers of the dark and stormy cocktail:

1.  pour the ginger beer into a glass first
2. add the spiced syrup which will sink to the bottom of the glass
3. hold a spoon upside down at the top of the glass just above where the ginger beer layer starts.  Pour the rum slowly over the spoon and watch the rum float on top.

This is where the magic happens!  You end up with a three layer cocktail that looks so impressive, it will knock the socks off of whoever you make it for!

Best Ginger Beer

There is a bunch of different kinds of ginger beer out there.  Some are really spicy, some are really sweet.  We like one that’s a little bit spicy and not too sweet.

We usually use Fentimans ginger beer and it was really great in this cocktail.  You can find it at more specialty grocery stores, like Whole Foods, or you can get it here on Amazon.  It’s pretty damn good on its own too!

Fever Tree Ginger Beer is another really wonderful ginger beer with a good spicy ginger kick that’s not too sweet.  You can find it at Whole Foods or on Amazon too.

Make these for a Party

To make these for a party, make the syrup ahead of time and store it in the fridge.  You might want to double the recipe…  Stock up on rum, ginger beer, lime and, of course, ice.  Can’t forget the ice!  I did once, and we all suffered…

Give it a stir before you drink it!

Tools You Need:

• Goslings Black Seal Rum – you cant have a proper dark and stormy cocktail without it!  You can find it in most liquor stores.
• Fentimans ginger beer  or Fever Tree Ginger Beer – this is the ginger beer that we used, but you could use another kind too
• tall highball or collins glasses – these are gorgeous glasses.  We love how they show the layers of the cocktail perfectly.
• bar spoons – these come in pretty handy for stirring tall drinks

Other Rum Drinks  You Might Like

• planters punch cocktail
• pineapple and coconut rum drinks
• spiked citrus ice tea slush with rum & pineapple
• blood orange mojito
• strawberry mojito

If you’ve tried this dark and stormy recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it turned out in the comments below.  We LOVE hearing from you!

We love to see your creations!  Tag @Cookswithcocktails if you post a picture of this recipe on INSTAGRAM