Low Carb Dark and Stormy, a classic highball cocktail made with dark rum and diet ginger beer, served over ice and garnished with a slice of lime. Here's my low carb twist on this refreshing and very popular cocktail.
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The recipe of Dark & Stormy is very similar to Moscow Mule, except that this cocktail uses dark Rum instead of Vodka. Rum has a more alcohol forward taste as compared to Vodka, which makes this different.
The intense oaky taste of rum gets contrasted and balanced by the spicy-sweet ginger beer. This is one of the cocktails you can enjoy year round, be it the holidays, backyard BBQ, or any occasion really!
One of the Lowest Carb & Keto-Friendly Cocktails
During festivities or holidays, it's quite a challenge to stay away from carbs, they're everywhere and in everything! And drinks are one big way we all end up consuming a lot of sugar without even realizing it.
My hubby and I developed lower carb versions of some of our favorite drinks so we can enjoy them minus all that sugar.
A regular Dark & Stormy Cocktail contains about 13 grams of net carbs, with roughly 12 grams from Ginger Beer, and about 1 gram from lime juice.
In my low carb twist, I replaced the regular Ginger beer with a sugar-free Ginger beer and saved those 12 grams.
Here is the carb breakdown for this low-carb Dark & Stormy:
- Dark Rum: Zero carbs.
- Lime Juice: One teaspoon contains less than 1g carbs.
- Diet Ginger Beer: Zero carbs.
A 5 oz serving of this Low Carb Dark & Stormy cocktail contains about 1 gram of net carbs, from the lime juice, which is 12 grams less than the original, and that makes this a great keto-friendly cocktail.
Why is it called Dark and Stormy?
There are a few unproven legends about the origin of this drink, but this one has my vote. Why you ask? Coz we all love a great story 🙂
According this article on CNN Travel, a highball made of spicy ginger beer and rich Gosling's Black Seal dark rum, the drink allegedly got its name from an old sailor who compared the drink's murky hue to the color of stormy clouds.
Simply put, Dark comes from the dark rum used, and Stormy comes from the storm-like look and feel that is created when ginger beer is added, the fizz, bubbles and the spice.
What is the Best Rum for Dark and Stormy?
Traditionally, dark and Stormy is made with Dark Rum, which is basically a full bodied rum that has been aged in oak barrels and gets its dark color from molasses.
You can use your favorite brand of dark rum in this recipe. I've been making this cocktail with either Bacardi Black or Bacardi Gold, and both work great.
Interesting Fact: Did you know that in the United States, "Dark 'n' Stormy" has been a registered trademark of Gosling Brothers Ltd of Bermuda since 1991. This registration prohibits US marketing of a drink under the name "Dark 'N Stormy", unless it is made with Gosling Black Seal rum.
Ingredients for Dark And Stormy
You just need 3-ingredients to make this party favorite. Here's what you need:
- Dark Rum: I use Bacardi Gold or Black, but you can use your favorite brand of dark rum. Alternatively, if you don't enjoy the taste of Dark Rum, any good Bourbon would work too.
- Diet Ginger Beer: Gosling's Diet Ginger Beer works great in this recipe. However, if you cannot find diet ginger beer, or don't want to get a huge case, you can substitute that with diet ginger ale + ⅛ teaspoon juice from freshly grated ginger (about 4-5 drops).
- Lime Juice + Slices: You only need 4-5 drops of fresh lime juice per drink and a slice for garnishing.
How to Make Low Carb Dark and Stormy Cocktail
In just 3 simple steps, you can enjoy this refreshing low carb cocktail:
- Fill a tall glass with ice, about ¾ of the way.
- Add rum and diet ginger beer.
- Add 4-5 drops of fresh lime juice and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy!
What Glass is Dark & Stormy Served In?
Typically, Dark & Stormy is served in a highball glass. A highball glass is a tall and skinny glass, which is about 6 inches in height.
The reason for serving this cocktail in a tall glass is that it can take a lot of ice, which is needed to chill this drink. The glass is skinny so it can fill up with a typical 5-6 oz serving size of this cocktail.
If you don't have a highball or tall glass, it can also be served in an old-fashioned glass too. I wouldn't recommend a martini or a margarita glass for this drink.
How to Make a Regular Dark & Stormy (non diet version)
Simply replace the diet ginger beer with regular ginger beer and you can enjoy a classic Dark and Stormy Cocktail!
Tips for the BEST low Carb Dark & Stormy Cocktail
- Start with your preferred brand of dark rum. Rum forms the foundation of this drink, so pick a lighter rum if that's what you prefer.
- Alternatively, if you don't enjoy the taste of rum, use your favorite Bourbon.
- Diet Ginger beer is one of the key ingredients in this recipe. However, if you cannot find that, substitute with diet ginger ale + ⅛ teaspoon juice from freshly grated ginger (about 4-5 drops).
- This drink is traditionally served in a highball glass, which is a tall and skinny glass about 6 inches in height. But if you don't have that serve it in any glass you use for bourbon or mixed drinks. A martini or margarita glass won't work as great for this drink.
More Low Carb Cocktails on the Blog
Other Drinks from my Kitchen
📖 Recipe
Low Carb Dark & Stormy Cocktail
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Dark Rum Gosling's Black Seal, Bacardi Gold or Black
- 3 oz Diet Ginger Beer
- 0.5 oz Lime Juice fresh
- 1 lime slice (wheel)
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with ice, about ¾ of the way.
- Add rum and diet ginger beer.
- Add 4-5 drops of fresh lime juice and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy!
Notes
Tips for the BEST low Carb Dark & Stormy Cocktail
- Start with your preferred brand of dark rum. Rum forms the foundation of this drink, so pick a lighter rum if that's what you prefer.
- Alternatively, if you don't enjoy the taste of rum, use your favorite Bourbon.
- Diet Ginger beer is one of the key ingredients in this recipe. However, if you cannot find that, substitute with diet ginger ale + ⅛ teaspoon juice from freshly grated ginger (about 4-5 drops).
- This drink is traditionally served in a highball glass, which is a tall and skinny glass about 6 inches in height. But if you don't have that serve it in any glass you use for bourbon or mixed drinks. A martini or margarita glass won't work as great for this drink.
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