Dark Rum Cocktails: Dark & Stormy Variations

The classic Dark and Stormy is one of the most popular dark rum cocktails. I’ll show you how to make it, as well as some Dark ‘n Stormy variations you might love!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Diageo. All opinions are 100% mine.

How to Make a Dark & Stormy

A Dark ’n’ Stormy is made with a 2:1 ratio of ginger beer to dark rum and a slice or squeeze of lime. It’s served over ice in a highball (tall) glass. Fresh lime juice and simple syrup are also sometimes added for a sweeter drink.

Some people think of this drink as a Moscow mule with rum. The two cocktails have the same ingredients, only a Moscow Mule is made with vodka. 

What is the best ginger beer for a dark and stormy? Gosling’s Ginger Beer is a popular one, though it’s made with high fructose corn syrup instead of cane sugar. For a more natural option, try Fever Tree or Q Mixers.

The Dark and Stormy is a delicious cocktail, but there are lots of other dark rum cocktails you can try.

Dark and Stormy Variations

What else can you make with ginger beer and rum? Try some of these fun cocktails.

• Frozen Dark and Stormy: Add ice and blend in a blender
• Kraken Dark ‘n Stormy: Add 1.5 oz of espresso
• Stormy Weather: Add 1.5 oz of Shiraz wine
• Rhubarb Dark and Stormy: Add 5 dashes of rhubarb bitters
• Pineapple Dark & Stormy: Add 1 oz pineapple juice and 2 dashes of orange bitters
• Pumpkin Spice Dark ‘n Stormy: Dissolve ¼ tsp pumpkin spice in the rum

About Zacapa Rum

I had the chance to give Zacapa premium dark rum a try. I had never tried this brand of rum so I was interested in whether or not I would really enjoy the flavor.

I also had the pleasure of learning about Ron Zacapa rum. It’s pretty interesting. 

Apparently the base for most rum is molasses. However, for their base, Zacapa uses the concentrated first press of sugar cane, known as virgin sugar cane, honey. 

After the rum is made, there is an aging process. It takes place in the Quetzaltenango highlands in an aging building called The House Above the Clouds. It’s actually one of the world’s highest aging facilities.  

The rum is passed through several casks that previously housed American whiskey, Oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximenez wines.  This helps give Zacapa premium rum a distinctive, delicious taste.

After learning about the rum I knew I had to give it a try in a Dark ‘n Stormy, one of my all-time favorite drinks.  

It was perfect. Spicy, gingery and just the right amount of delicious rum flavor.

Wondering what food goes well with a Dark and Stormy? Try dishes rich in vegetables, fish, and pasta such as my Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, Ratatouille Pasta, or Pasta with Shrimp and Feta.