drink essentials: it was a dark and stormy night

Name: Drink Essentials: It was a Dark and Stormy Night
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ## PLAN/PURCHASE; 2 ounce(s) dark rum, ice cold; 3 ounce(s) ginger beer, ice cold; 1 - lime wedge; 1/2 ounce(s) lime juice, freshly squeezed, or to taste; ## OPTIONAL ITEMS; 1 stick(s) candied ginger

23 Pinches 16 Photos

Andy Anderson !

Wichita, KS

Updated on Feb 25, 2019

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.

Rate

prep time 5 Min

cook time

method No-Cook or Other

yield 1 serving(s)

Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
2 ounces dark rum, ice cold
3 ounces ginger beer, ice cold
1 - lime wedge
1/2 ounce 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

Step 1

PREP/PREPARE

Step 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.
Step 3

You will need a glass tall enough to hold the ingredients, and a spoon for pouring the rum… More on that later.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 7

Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
Step 8

Chill a glass in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
Step 9

Add the ginger beer, and the lime juice.
Step 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.
Step 11

Pour the rum, as slowly as possible, over the back of the spoon; keeping the spoon on top as is rises.
Step 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.
Step 13

If you find that the rum is mixing with the ginger beer, stop and wait until they settle down, then continue the pour.
Step 14

PLATE/PRESENT
Step 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.
Step 16

Keep the faith and keep drinking… err, cooking.
Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

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