Have a Drink: Dark ‘N Stormy

A storm is moving in this weekend

Dark ‘n Stormy Cocktail | Relampago’s Rating:

Popular with sailors, this cocktail gets its name from its appearance, which is similar to a dark storm cloud overhanging the sea. It uses ginger beer and rum, and is a simple cocktail to throw together once you’ve located the beer. Ginger beer is similar to ginger ale, but ginger beer is stronger and spicier than ginger ale.

Jim Sabataso gives us the history of the drink. There are several accounts of how the Dark ‘n Stormy got its name:

Bermuda, 1860. The Gosling family begins experimenting with rum, as families do. The result is a dark, distinct, full-bodied âold rum,â which would become Goslingâs Black Seal. Elsewhere on the island, the British Royal Navy, satisfied with having conquered the known world, does the next logical thing: they start brewing beer. Ginger beer. Itâs unclear why exactly, but one theory suggests it may have had something to do with gingerâs effectiveness in combating seasickness. Another posits that is was an effort to wean sailors off rum.

At around 20 square miles, Bermudaâs not a big place so it wasnât long before these two beverages ended up in the same glass. According to a legend, the name Dark ânâ Stormy was coined by a sailor sometime after WWI who, while enjoying the cocktail, commented that it was the âcolour of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under.â

Here’s what you will need to make a Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail:

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 4 oz. ginger beer
• A dash of bitters (if you have them)
• 1/2 cup ice

Once you have all the ingredients, combine them in a old-fashioned glass. Add ice and stir. That’s it! Ride the storm this weekend with this vintage (and tasty) cocktail.

Help us grow by making a purchase from our Recommended Reading and Viewing page or our Politically Incorrect Apparel and Merchandise page or buy anything from Amazon using this link. You can also Sponsor The New Modern Man for as little as $1 a month.