Dark N Stormy

We’ll jump into the history of the classic Cuba Libre cocktail in just a second, but first, here are some similar rum cocktail recipes you'll probably like: the Blue Passion Piña Colada, the Passion Fruit Piña Colada, the Piña Colada Shot, the Pomegranate Mimosa, the Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosa, and the Caribbean Sunset Rum Punch. Regarding the history of the Dark n’ Stormy cocktail, it’s pretty pirate infested, as is the case with so many rum cocktails. Sounds like a fun Pirates of the Caribbean story, right? Not exactly. As CNN Travel points out, “In 1806, the Mercury, a chartered English clipper commandeered by James Gosling managed to avoid that fearsome coral reef, steering the ship onto Bermuda's shores after 91 days at sea, their charter having run out.” CNN Travel goes on to note that “The Goslings would become one of the most prominent families on the island, entering the rum production business in 1857.” And because ginger beer was also popular in on the very tiny Bermuda island, it was only a matter of time before the two ingredients were mix. Now, unlike most other cocktail recipes in our library, the Dark N’ Story has one brand-related detail that you have to take into account — remember how we mentioned the Gosling family becoming the most prominent family on the island and going into rum production? Yeah, well, they started the Gosling’s Rum company, which now owns the rights to the Dark N’ Stormy. Yes, you read that right: Gosling’s Black Seal Rum — it’s named black seal because the company uses black wax to seal its bottles — is technically the only kind of rum you can use in the Dark N’ Stormy cocktail recipe. As the Dark n’ Stormy cocktail Wiki points out, the “Gosling Brothers uses… [its] registration to prohibit US marketing of a drink under the name ‘Dark 'N Stormy’, or a related, confusing name, unless it is made with Gosling Black Seal rum.” The Dark n’ Stormy cocktail Wiki goes on to note that “Gosling's has litigated or threatened litigation over the mark against Pernod Ricard, Proximo Spirits, Picaroons Traditional Ales, Infinium Spirits’ Zaya, and a cocktail blog.” Yeah, Gosling’s rum is very serious about keeping its trademark of the Dark n’ Stormy fully active. If you want to order Bermuda’s official island cocktail — it really is Bermuda’s official cocktail — then be prepared to get turned down. It’s hard to say for sure, but we can imagine a lot of bars don’t carry Gosling’s and don’t want to possibly upset the very litigious Gosling Brothers company. But if you’re making the drink at home, all bets, are, of course, off, and you can use absolutely any rum you’d like to make the Dark N’ Stormy. And on one final note, if you’re looking for some other delicious ginger beer cocktail recipes, go ahead and check out these bad boys: the Ginger Mule, the Moscow Mule, the Mezcal Mule, the Blue Mule, and the Blackberry Bourbon Smash. DARK N STORMY® 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) Dark Rum (Gosling's) 4 oz. (120ml) Ginger Beer (Gosling’s Stormy Ginger Beer) Lime wedge PREPARATION 1. Add ice to old fashioned glass or highball and pour over ginger beer. 2. Top with dark rum and garnish with a lime wedge. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!