Dark and Stormy

The Dark and Stormy (IBA New Era Drinks) is made with dark rum and ginger beer, served in a highball glass over ice with a lime wedge garnish. The dark rum (traditionally Gosling's Black Seal rum from Bermuda) is poured on top of the ginger beer to create a dramatic dark layer floating on the lighter ginger beer. The ABV is approximately 10.4% due to the generous amount of ginger beer used.

The Dark and Stormy is Bermuda's national cocktail and is closely tied to Gosling Brothers, the Bermudian rum producer. Gosling's has trademarked the name 'Dark 'n' Stormy' in the United States, making it one of the few cocktails with intellectual property protection. Technically, an authentic Dark 'n' Stormy must use Gosling's Black Seal rum; using another rum may legally require a different name in trademarked markets.

The Moscow Mule uses vodka with ginger beer and lime in a copper mug, while the Dark and Stormy uses dark rum with ginger beer and is typically served in a highball glass. The rum adds depth, molasses sweetness, and complexity absent from the neutral vodka base of a Mule. Both are refreshing ginger beer-based highballs, but the Dark and Stormy has a richer, more tropical character due to the aged rum.