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drink essentials: it was a dark and stormy night

Andy59 avatar
Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
@Andy59
Wichita, KS

The reason this is called a “Dark and Stormy” is because you are supposed to layer the drink in the glass, so you have a light layer on the bottom (the ginger beer), and a darker layer (the rum on top). When you swirl the glass, the dark layer begins to slowly mix with the ginger beer, creating dark storm clouds… Dark and Stormy. Anyway, that is the story I was told, and I am sticking with it. The bartender at Diamond Jim’s, where I worked, could throw one of these together faster than you could say, Dark and Stormy… Well, almost. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

yield 1 serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For drink essentials: it was a dark and stormy night

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • 2 oz
    dark rum, ice cold
  • 3 oz
    ginger beer, ice cold
  • 1
    lime wedge
  • 1/2 oz
    lime juice, freshly squeezed, or to taste
  • OPTIONAL ITEMS
  • 1 stick
    candied ginger

How To Make drink essentials: it was a dark and stormy night

  • 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • 2
    The Dark Rum: Most bartenders swear by Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. If you cannot find it, then use Captain Morgan’s Dark Rum… Works for me.
  • 3
    You will need a glass tall enough to hold the ingredients, and a spoon for pouring the rum… More on that later.
  • 4
    To find the perfect glass, just get out a few different sizes, and then add 5 ounces of water. If the liquid fills the glass 1/4 to 1/2 inch (.6 to 1.3cm) from the top, you have found the correct glass.
  • 5
    There are several recipes on this site for making a Dark and Stormy drink; however, they are missing an important part, and that is the layering of the rum and ginger beer. You need to see the dark, and stormy layers. If you just mix the ingredients together, you do not have a Dark and Stormy; you have a Rum fizz.
  • 6
    Why is the ginger beer on the bottom, and the rum on top? Ah, I am glad you asked that question… It is all about specific gravity of the ingredients. When you are mixing a layered drink the heaviest liquid must go on the bottom. If you poured the rum in first, when you added the ginger beer, it would just sink in, and blend with the rum… Hmm, and we are back to a rum fizz.
  • 7
    Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
  • 8
    Chill a glass in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
  • 9
    Add the ginger beer, and the lime juice.
  • 10
    Turn a spoon upside down. Place it inside the glass, with the tip of the spoon against the inside edge of the glass, barely touching the ginger beer.
  • 11
    Pour the rum, as slowly as possible, over the back of the spoon; keeping the spoon on top as is rises.
  • 12
    Chef’s Tip: This is much easier to do with a small flask, or a larger bottle that is not completely full. You might wish to put the rum in a smaller container (like a glass), and pour from that.
  • 13
    If you find that the rum is mixing with the ginger beer, stop and wait until they settle down, then continue the pour.
  • 14
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • So yummy
    15
    Add a candied ginger stick, if using, and serve to your waiting guests. Enjoy. Note: I did photograph this without the lime slice... My Bad.
  • Stud Muffin
    16
    Keep the faith and keep drinking… err, cooking.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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