Cocktail
Dark & Stormy
Two ingredients, plenty of character. The classic calls for Goslings rum; another dark rum makes a simple house variation.
Rum · Spicy · Sweet
Ingredients
- 60 ml Dark rum (Goslings for the classic recipe)
- 100 ml Ginger beer (0.0%)
- 1 piece Lime (wedge, for garnish) (Optional)
Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.
Method
Build
Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Bar spoon
- Fill a highball with ice and pour in the ginger beer.
- Slowly pour the dark rum over the back of a spoon to float it on top.
- Add a lime wedge if you like, then stir before drinking to combine the layers.
A small detail
The float is for presentation. Stirring before the first sip balances the rum with the ginger beer.
Estimated strength
Medium
What does this mean?
Per serving: ≈ 13.6% ABV · ≈ 18.9 g alcohol
An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.
Added water from ice: 10%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.
Plan for a party
Prep the base
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
Guests: 6
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.
Base only: 360 ml · Per serving: 60 ml. Use a container larger than the volume shown; allow room for fruit and stirring.
Prepare the base
- 360 ml Dark rum (Goslings for the classic recipe)
Keep separate for serving
- 600 ml Ginger beer (0.0%)
Optional garnishes · Optional
- 6 pieces Lime (wedge, for garnish)
Water for the batch
No pre-added water. Chill the ingredients, build over fresh ice and add the cold sparkling mixer last, except where the original recipe specifies a different order.
Prepare and serve
- Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
- Prepare for today’s service. Label and refrigerate the covered base; follow ingredient storage labels. Keep ice out of the container and chill the glasses before serving.
- For each glass, use 60 ml of base in place of those ingredients in the original method. Add the separate ingredients at their per-serving amounts. Do not measure the base ingredients a second time.
- Keep fizzy drinks cold and closed until pouring. Add them per glass; never shake or blend them.
- Keep the float or layered ingredient separate. Follow the original pouring order in each glass.
The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.
Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator
Sources & inspiration
About this recipe
Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.
Suggest a correction