Dark & Stormy (with Ginger Ale)

I have been drawn into the Olympics this summer. Traditionally, I've always enjoyed watching the competitions and learning about (and subsequently getting into) the drama surrounding individual athletes, always rooting for Team USA. However, this time around I am faced with finals week in graduate school; while my head should be buried in books, I find my eyes glued to the television instead. It would be easier to handle if the Olympics didn't make hours of my evening mysteriously disappear, as class notes lay scattered and neglected across my lap.

I just can't miss men's swimming or women's gymnastics.

Though I do enjoy the summer Olympics, the winter games will always steal my heart. I used to be a figure skater, doing jumps and spins on the ice at the local rink. I wore the expensive skates, the sequined uniforms, and dreaded performances as my nerves would find a way to get the best of me. Now I prefer to watch the world's best instead.

Men's figure skating is my favorite event. There is so much drama surrounding so few athletes and, as I follow their competitions through the years, I'm anxious to see how they match up against one another. During the winter games two years ago, I was so excited for the events I convinced my boyfriend (who knew nothing of men's figure skating or, really, skating in general) to brush up on a few years of history between the competitors before we watched the games together. Not only did he surprise me by recognizing the skaters' skill sets, he spouted off facts and figures even I didn't know.

Perhaps that's how you know you've picked a good one.

This year I held a little get together at my apartment to watch the opening ceremony. There was spaghetti, cupcakes, and these Dark & Stormy cocktails to go around. We watched the ceremony with countless millions from all over the world, united by a common force of good. I find something magical about the Olympic's ability to bring countries and people closer together.

We toasted to the games and ourselves, as my humble living room grew to accommodate a small part of the world.

Dark & Stormy cocktails are traditionally made with dark rum and ginger beer, but I prefer the clean fizzy flavor of a good ginger ale. The cocktail is simple to prepare, with three ingredients that do not need to be blended or mixed. With a lemon twist, this cocktail manages complex flavors while staying light and bright. Contrary to its namesake, Dark & Stormy cocktails may also be enjoyed on days that are sunny and golden, when friends and family are near.

One Year Ago: Pâte Brisée (Pie Crust)

Dark & Stormy (with Ginger Ale)

Yields 1 serving

2 ounces (59 ml) dark rum
1 ounce (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
6 ounces (177 ml) ginger ale, chilled
Lemon slices and ice, if desired

Pour the rum, lemon juice, and ginger ale in a glass. Serve over ice or garnish with lemon slices, if desired.

Comments

[Sue]

A Dark and Stormy is new to me. It sounds like a good Christmas drink to me, but I'll give it go any time of the year. If you think your evenings are being eaten up by Olympics, pity me in the UK whose entire days are eaten up by it. I hope you enjoyed our opening ceremony, we absolutely loved it and felt it summed the British character up so well.

[Mal @ The Chic Geek]

This sounds delicious!

[Bermudian]

A Dark and Stormy is actually not made with ginger ale. It's made with a stone ginger beer. The two tastes of these sodas are different and distinct. Dark and Stormies are the national cocktail of Bermuda and so a true Dark and Stormy would consist of Goslings's Black Seal Rum and a Bermuda stone ginger beer such as Barritt's. This looks and tastes quite different from a true Dark and Stormy cocktail.

[Holly]

Hello, what beautiful photographs! I came across your site via Foodgawker and will be sure to stop back again soon. I lived in Bermuda for a few years and the Dark & Stormy is quite a popular drink there, along with the rum swizzle. Yours looks refreshing and I like the change to ginger ale as well, though I recently came across ginger beer here in Denver which put dark and stormies on my mind. Holly

[Kristin Rosenau]

Bermudian-- I am aware a true Dark & Stormy is made with ginger beer, but ginger beer can be difficult to find in the Upper Midwest so this is a twist on the traditional cocktail (and I couldn't help myself and added the lemon twist).

[Katherine @ eggton]

Hi! I just found you on foodgawker and clicked through because I love dark and stormies. I used to live in New York and would get fantastic ones at Commerce, in the West Village, where they make their own ginger ale/syrup. Your photography is lovely, and your HEADER is fantastic! Love it! Also the Chesterton quote. Just a lot of good stuff in one place, my lady!

[Noelle]

Simple yet classy. No frou frou. An overstated straw. Love it. Trying soon!

[Two Wabash Dad]

Okay, I'll ask. What happened to the bottoms of the straws in two of the photos?

[Kristin Rosenau]

Two Wabash Dad-- There is a physics principle called Snell's Law that explains it. Basically, when the light beams from the straw hit the water, they are bent. Because of the position of the straw and light, the straw appears to disappear in these photographs, but the straw is really just hiding in the shadows.