IBA
Dark 'N' Stormy – IBA
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 13.3% ABV ∙
The Dark 'N' Stormy is an official IBA New Era cocktail of dark rum floated over ginger beer, served over ice in a highball glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In a highball glass filled with ice pour the Ginger beer 100 ml and top floating with Dark rum 60 ml
- Garnish with a lime wedge or a lime wheel
Tips
- Pick a spicy ginger beer, not a mild ginger ale. You need that ginger heat to stand up to 60 ml of dark rum.
- Pour the rum last and slowly, over the back of a bar spoon, so it floats on the ginger beer instead of mixing in.
History
The Dark 'N' Stormy – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's specification, listed in the New Era category since the 2011 revision. The IBA builds it by floating the rum over the ginger beer rather than stirring the two together, and spells the name with two apostrophes rather than the one in Gosling's registered trademark.
The Dark 'N' Stormy is tied to Bermuda, where Gosling Brothers claims it was invented just after World War I, originally pairing Gosling's Black Seal rum with Barritt's Ginger Beer before that partnership ended. Gosling Brothers registered "Dark 'n Stormy" as a US trademark in 1991, restricting commercial use of the name to drinks made with its own Black Seal rum, and has pursued trademark disputes against several spirits companies.
FAQ
What is in a Dark 'n' Stormy?
Just two ingredients: 60 ml dark rum floated over 100 ml ginger beer, served over ice with lime.
Is a Dark 'n' Stormy shaken or stirred?
Neither. It is built in the glass: fill a highball with ice, pour in the ginger beer, then float the dark rum on top. Pour the rum slowly over the back of a bar spoon so it sits on the ginger beer like a storm cloud.
What glass is a Dark 'n' Stormy served in?
A highball glass filled with ice, garnished with a lime wedge or wheel. The tall glass leaves room for the ginger beer.
What rum should I use in a Dark 'n' Stormy?
Dark rum, which gives the drink its color and a rich molasses depth. The original, trademarked version uses Gosling's Black Seal, though any full-bodied dark rum works at home.
What is the difference between a Dark 'n' Stormy and a Moscow Mule?
Both pair a spirit with ginger beer, but a Dark 'N' Stormy uses dark rum while a Moscow Mule uses vodka. The rum makes the Dark 'N' Stormy warmer and richer; the Mule is crisper and cleaner.
