Experience the perfect blend of spiced rum, zesty lime, and fiery ginger beer with a classic favorite, the Dark and Stormy cocktail (with our blackberry and sage twist).

Every good Halloween story starts with “a dark and stormy night”. And every good Halloween party starts with a drink.

I, Colleen am combining the two for some epic holiday hosting with a scary good secret, the Dark and Stormy cocktail recipe!

Can we all just agree that Halloween, when done right, is the most fun of all holidays?

Not saying it’s necessarily the all-around-best (I hear you, Christmas lovers), but come on, people! Any holiday that requires costumes begs to be taken with a healthy dose of good cheer.

Nothing says Halloween like a party, and nothing says party like holiday-themed drinks.

To keep things easy, we’re sharing our party version of the uber-popular Dark and Stormy with a blackberry and sage twist.

If you’re looking for a simple, spooky, seasonal drink this year, this Dark and Stormy cocktail recipe is definitely for you!

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Table of Contents

What is the Original Dark and Stormy? Why is it Called a Dark and Stormy?

The Dark and Stormy (also referenced as the Dark ‘n’ Stormy) was invented by the Gosling Brothers just after World War I.

The original Dark & Stormy was originally made with Goslings Black Seal rum and Barritt’s Ginger Beer (which was run by British naval officers).

It gets its name because it looks dark and stormy, which is why it’s a Halloween favorite.

What Does Dark and Stormy Taste Like?

A highball cocktail, the Dark and Stormy drink recipe consists of dark rum and ginger beer. Most recipes also call for lime juice and simple syrup.

The Dark & Stormy tastes and is very similar to the Moscow Mule. However, instead of vodka, it features rum.

We are making ours extra fancy and tasty by adding a blackberry and sage twist. The blackberries are actually why our version of the Dark and Stormy looks even darker and murkier than the classic.

Ingredients Needed to Make a Dark and Stormy

Dark rum — Or black rum if you want to stick to the traditional recipe. Black rum is essentially a dark rum. It is the strongest rum with a smoky-sweet flavor.

Ginger beer — Some recipes swap the ginger beer for ginger ale which is okay to do so. However, we prefer ginger beer since it’s “spicier”. Plus, some ginger beer ales use ginger syrup versus fresh ginger.

Lime juice

Salt

Blackberries and sage leaves — These are 2 extra additions to our recipe for a fruitier drink.

Edible flowers and citrus peels — Optional for garnish. We went for a “Day of the Dead” themed drink which is why we opted for these ingredients. Plus, we love how delicious and pretty edible flower recipes are! Typically, you will see a lime wedge as the garnish.

How to Make the Best Dark and Stormy

1 — Add the lime juice, salt and sage leaves into a shaker and muddle by using a muddler or the bottom of a wooden spoon to smash the lime and sage together until juices are fully released.

2 — Add blackberries to the shaker and continue to muddle for 1- 2 minutes.

3 — Pour in the dark rum. Shake well until well combined.

2 — Strain the mix into a highball glass or Collins glass with ice cubes.

3 — Top it off with ginger beer. You can adjust the ratio of rum to ginger beer to suit your taste preference. Stir to combine the ingredients.

4 — Garnish the drink with a lime wedge or your garnishes of choice.

Recipe Notes and Tips

For a classic Dark n Stormy:

Simply omit the ingredients and steps that call to muddle the blackberry and sage. We do love how the blackberry and sage elevate the drink and give it another level of complexity to the flavor profile.

Plus, the blackberries are what makes this unique drink darker than the classic!

To make in a large batch:

This recipe is super easy to scale up or scale down according to your number of guests. Make the base ahead and leave it in the glasses (sans ice). When your guests arrive, throw in the ice and ginger beer to order.

More Easy Rum Cocktails to Try

Rum cocktails tend to be sweet and fruity yet spicy. For more fun rum drinks, check out of a few of our favorites below —