The History of the Dark ‘n Stormy Cocktail

In 1806, William Gosling was working as a liquor purveyor in London. In search of opportunities in the New World, his son James set sail on a charter called the Mercury with a hull full of wines and spirits. However, the ship was becalmed and the journey took over 91 days, causing the ship's charter to expire, so the crew put in at Bermuda. James and his compatriots set up shop on the island and his brother, Ambrose, later joined the business. In the early 1860s (some sources cite 1857), the Goslings imported their first barrels of rum distillate. Over time, the Goslings refined their blending process, eventually creating Goslings Black Seal Rum. The name came about during World War I. Prior to that time, customers would refill used bottles straight from the barrel, but when the war broke out, the Goslings began distributing their rum in champagne bottles collected at the Royal Navy Officers Mess. The bottles were filled, then sealed with a black wax, which is where the name of the drink comes from. So where did the ginger beer in the Dark ‘n Stormy recipe come from? British naval officers and sailors may have produced homemade ginger beer themselves, or it may have been produced at a subsidiary factory run by the Royal Naval Officers Club, but we do know for certain that the drink was popular on the island. It’s unclear who first combined the two drinks to create the Dark ‘n Stormy, but it quickly caught on, likely because the cocktail was both alcoholic and a balm for seasickness and stomach complaints. The name Dark ‘n Stormy was born when a sailor allegedly commented that the murky drink resembled an ominously cloudy sky. After World War I ended, Goslings Black Seal Rum and the Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail became inextricably linked. As the company began exporting its goods more widely, the cocktail followed, and as the Dark ‘n Stormy gained popularity in the United States and other areas, rival rum companies began promoting their own versions of the drink. In 1991, Gosling Brothers Ltd. successfully trademarked the recipe, making the Dark 'n Stormy one of only four internationally trademarked cocktails. Today, the Dark ‘n Stormy remains immensely popular, particularly in areas with a strong maritime culture.