The recipe
for your table
Fill a longdrink glass with ice cubes.
Pour the ginger beer and, if desired, the lime juice into the glass.
Carefully pour the dark rum over the rounded side of a bar spoon so that it floats on top as a layer.
Garnish with a lime wedge and serve with a stirrer.
The story
The cocktail originated in Bermuda at the end of the nineteenth century, where the Gosling family had been making their Black Seal rum since 1806 and Royal Navy sailors brewed their own ginger beer. The combination was inevitable. A sailor reportedly said the drink was the colour of 'a cloud that only a fool or a dead man would sail under'. A remarkable detail: Gosling's had the name legally protected – officially, it is only a Dark 'n Stormy when made with their rum. The sailing world adopted the cocktail as an unofficial finishing drink.
The right glass
The famous storm effect – dark rum floating above light ginger beer – only comes into its own in a clear, tall glass. Choose a 36 to 47 cl longdrink glass without too much decoration: the colour contrast is the star here. A sleek cylindrical shape makes the layered effect sharpest. Would you rather serve it in a copper mug, take a look at our moscow mule glasses.
Duralex Picardie Longdrink Glass 36 cl (6 pieces)
Onis Icon Longdrink Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets — € 53.90 together, free shipping from € 50.
Variations & twists
With golden rum and Angostura, it becomes lighter and more spiced; with a splash of falernum, more tropical. The Stormy Weather—with a slice of fresh ginger muddled in—is for true ginger fans. Gosling's is officially required, but any full-bodied, dark rum with character comes close. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all 80 cocktail recipes.
Servingtip
Pour the rum slowly over a bar spoon for a clean separation between dark and light. Let your guests stir it themselves—the moment the storm breaks is part of the experience.
The ratio of rum to ginger beer
Six centiliters of dark rum to ten centiliters of ginger beer is the standard ratio, approximately 1 to 1.7. This is deliberately more rum-forward than a Moscow Mule, because the ginger should support the molasses rather than overpower it. In a 36 cl highball glass filled with plenty of ice, this gives you roughly 12 percent alcohol. If you prefer a spicier drink, use 5 cl of rum to 12 cl of ginger beer. The centiliter of lime juice is listed as optional in the recipe, but it noticeably lifts the whole drink by cutting through the sweetness.
Ginger beer or ginger ale
This is the difference between a good and a disappointing Dark 'n Stormy. Ginger beer is brewed or fermented with real ginger root and is sharp, cloudy, and quite spicy. Ginger ale is a soft drink with ginger flavoring: sweeter, clearer, and much milder. With ale, you get a drinkable glass, but the counterbalance to the dark rum disappears. Choose a ginger beer with a noticeable ginger bite and check the sugar content, as some brands contain more than ten grams per 100 milliliters. If it lacks sharpness, squeeze a slice of fresh ginger.
Difference from a Moscow Mule
The two look very similar on paper, but the difference lies in the base and preparation. A Moscow Mule is made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer, and is stirred thoroughly in a copper mug. A Dark 'n Stormy uses dark rum, which is floated over a bar spoon last so that two distinct layers are visible. In terms of flavor, the vodka gives the ginger free rein, while the rum's molasses and caramel notes provide balance. The Mule is therefore fresher and sharper, while the Dark 'n Stormy is fuller and warmer.
Alcohol-free with 0.0 rum
This recipe works better without alcohol than most, precisely because the ginger beer brings so much character. Use 6 cl alcohol-free dark rum and follow the rest of the recipe, including the centiliter of lime juice. If you don’t have 0.0 rum, a mixture of 4 cl strong black tea, 2 cl cane sugar syrup, and a few drops of vanilla extract comes surprisingly close to the rum notes. Maintain the layered effect by pouring this dark base just as slowly over the rounded side of a spoon as in the original.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Dark 'n Stormy?
Dark rum and ginger beer—in this recipe, 6 cl rum to 10 cl ginger beer—with optional 1 cl fresh lime juice and a lime wedge. Pour the rum last over the rounded side of a bar spoon so it floats as a dark layer above the ginger beer.
What is the ratio of rum to ginger beer?
Approximately one part rum to one and a half to two parts ginger beer—here, 6 cl to 10 cl. More ginger beer makes it fresher and spicier; less makes it heavier. Use real ginger beer, not ginger ale, otherwise the cocktail completely loses its ginger bite.
What is the difference from a Moscow Mule?
Both contain ginger beer and lime, but a Moscow Mule is made with vodka and served in a copper mug. The Dark 'n Stormy uses dark rum and gets its name from the visible layered effect, which only comes into its own in a clear glass.
Which glass do you serve a Dark 'n Stormy in?
In a clear long drink glass holding 36 to 47 cl, with a sleek cylindrical shape. That’s the only way to see the dark rum suspended above the light ginger beer, and that contrast is the whole show. Choose a glass without heavy decoration: see our long drink glasses.
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