Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Dark 'n' Stormy

The Dark 'n' Stormy is dark rum poured over spicy ginger beer so it drifts down like a storm cloud — Bermuda's national drink. Two ingredients plus lime, and it looks far more impressive than the effort involved.

Preparation~2 minSuper easyStrengthMediumabout 12% ABVMethodBuilt in glass5 guided stepsIngredients3Tall (highball) glass

Highball

In the glassDark rum · Fresh lime juice · Ginger beer

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

jigger or measuring spoon
spoon

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Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Dark rum60 ml
Ginger beer120 ml
Fresh lime juice15 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Ice the glass
Fill a tall glass with ice
02
Measure and pour
Add 15 ml fresh lime juice
- Fresh lime juice
03
Top gently
Pour in the ginger beer, leaving room at the top
- Ginger beer
Why it mattersLeave a couple of centimeters of space — the rum goes on top.
04
Float a layer
Pour 60 ml dark rum slowly over the top
- Dark rum
Why it mattersPour over the back of a spoon and the rum floats — that’s the “storm cloud” look.
05
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a lime wedge

Know your drink

About the Dark 'n' Stormy

A Daiquiri, minty rum highball and dark rum rocks drink at a sunset terrace bar.

Sailing weather

Born in Bermuda after World War I, where Gosling’s Black Seal rum met ginger beer brewed at a Royal Naval Officers’ Club. A sailor supposedly looked at the dark layer brooding over the cloudy ginger and said it was "the colour of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under". It remains the unofficial drink of sailing.

Common questions

Dark 'n' Stormy FAQ

How do I get the rum to float on top?

Fill the glass with ice, pour the ginger beer first, then pour the dark rum slowly over the back of a spoon held just above the surface. The rum sits as a dark storm-cloud layer — hand it over unstirred and let the drinker swirl it down.

Does it have to be Gosling’s rum?

In Bermuda, legally yes — Gosling’s trademarked the name and specifies its Black Seal rum. At home, any rich, dark (black) rum with molasses depth makes a superb version. The wrong choice is a light rum; the drink needs that dark intensity against the ginger.

What ingredients are in a Dark 'n' Stormy?

A classic Dark 'n' Stormy calls for 60 ml (2 oz) Dark rum, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Fresh lime juice, 120 ml (4 oz) Ginger beer. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Dark 'n' Stormy?

A standard Dark 'n' Stormy is roughly 12% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Dark 'n' Stormy shaken or stirred?

A Dark 'n' Stormy is built directly in the glass over ice — no shaker required. Add the ingredients in order and give it a brief, gentle stir.

What glass do you serve a Dark 'n' Stormy in?

Serve a Dark 'n' Stormy in a highball (tall) glass, over fresh ice cubes.

How many calories are in a Dark 'n' Stormy?

One Dark 'n' Stormy has approximately 180 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique