Dark and Stormy

The Dark and Stormy is Bermuda's national drink and one of the few trademarked cocktails in the world. Created in Bermuda after World War I, this simple highball combines Gosling's Black Seal rum and ginger beer (traditionally Barritt's), creating a spicy, refreshing cocktail with dark rum's molasses richness. The drink is legally required to use Gosling's rum to be called a Dark and Stormy (the company trademarked the name), though bartenders use other dark rums and call it variations. Built in a highball glass over ice with a lime wedge, the Dark and Stormy represents Bermuda drinking culture, Caribbean refreshment, and the power of branding. The drink embodies island life, naval heritage (the Royal Navy loved it), and the combination of British ginger beer tradition with Caribbean rum. The Dark and Stormy's molasses-rich rum, spicy ginger beer, and lime brightness create refreshing complexity perfect for warm weather. The cocktail demands quality ingredients: Gosling's Black Seal rum (for authenticity), good ginger beer (Barritt's or Fever-Tree), and fresh lime. The layered presentation (dark rum floating on ginger beer) creates the "stormy" appearance. The drink represents island sophistication, trademark cocktails, and the intersection of Caribbean and British drinking cultures. Whether served in Bermuda or a tiki bar, the Dark and Stormy delivers spicy rum refreshment.