Dark n Spicy
Dark rum, lime and a few slices of fresh chilli, topped with ginger beer over ice. The Dark 'n' Stormy with heat — the directory's version of a menu name, in the Bermuda highball's build.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Put the chilli slices and lime juice in a highball glass and press them gently once or twice.
Fill the glass with ice and add the rum.
Top with chilled ginger beer.
Stir once from the bottom and garnish with a lime wedge and a chilli slice.
A thoughtful finish
- Press the chilli, do not muddle it; three slices is plenty.
- Remove the seeds for less heat.
- A spicy ginger beer (Fever-Tree, Q) doubles the effect.
Common mistakes
- Muddling a whole chilli, which makes it painful.
- Ginger ale instead of ginger beer.
- A light rum, which disappears.
A few good questions.
What does a Dark 'n' Spicy taste like?
A Dark 'n' Stormy with a fresh chilli heat behind the ginger — molasses rum, lime, spice and fizz.
Is this a classic?
No; it is a menu name for a spicy Dark 'n' Stormy, and this is the directory's version.
Which chilli?
Jalapeño for a green heat; a red chilli for a sharper one.
Can I use a chilli syrup?
A quarter-ounce of chilli or ginger syrup in place of the slices is cleaner.
Variations
- Dark 'n' Stormy — Dark rum and ginger beer.
- Spicy Margarita — Margarita with jalapeño.
- Mezcal Mule — Mezcal, lime and ginger beer.
- Moscow Mule — Vodka, lime and ginger beer.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Dark ‘n’ Stormy — Gosling’s Black Seal rum and ginger beer — is Bermuda’s trademarked highball, and ‘Dark ‘n’ Spicy’ is what bars call it when they add fresh chilli, a 2010s habit that came with the spicy Margarita. There is no single published recipe under this name; it is a menu name that bars use for a family of drinks, and the version here is the directory’s own, built from the classic it riffs on. It takes the classic build, adds a squeeze of lime and two or three slices of jalapeño or red chilli muddled lightly in the glass, and lets the ginger beer’s own spice meet the chilli’s heat. The rum should be a dark, molasses-rich one; the chilli should be a few slices, not a muddled pepper. A spicy ginger beer doubles the heat.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Dark 'n' Stormy, 2010 (reference)
- Gosling's, Dark 'n' Stormy recipe, current (producer)
- Liquor.com, Spicy Dark and Stormy, 2021 (reference)
Strength. About 1.33 US standard drinks at an estimated 10.7% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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