Dark & Stormy Coffee Cocktail
This dark & stormy-style coffee cocktail brings together dark rum, cold brew, lime, and spicy ginger beer. It is bold, fizzy, and easy to build right in the glass.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mCaribbean-inspiredDrinks
A classic dark and stormy is built around dark rum, ginger beer, and lime. This coffee version keeps that same spicy, citrusy frame, then adds cold brew for a roasty edge.
The drink is simple enough for a weeknight cocktail hour, but it feels special because the layers are so distinct: bitter coffee, bright lime, warm rum, and fizzy ginger.
Use unsweetened cold brew so you can control the sweetness. Ginger beer already brings sugar and spice, while a small splash of simple syrup rounds out the coffee without making the drink syrupy.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
8 items · 1 cocktail
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 2 ounces unsweetened cold brew coffee, chilled
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce 1:1 simple syrup
- 4 ounces chilled ginger beer
- Ice cubes
- Lime wheel, for garnish
- Candied ginger or a thin slice of fresh ginger, for garnish, optional
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the glass
Fill a highball glass with ice water for 1 minute, then pour it out. This small step helps keep the cocktail cold and fizzy longer.
2. Add fresh ice
Fill the chilled glass about three-quarters full with ice cubes. Use larger cubes if you have them, because they melt more slowly.
3. Pour in the rum
Add the dark rum to the glass. Dark rum has deeper molasses and caramel notes than white rum, which pairs well with coffee and ginger.
4. Add the coffee and lime
Pour in the cold brew coffee and fresh lime juice. Fresh lime tastes brighter than bottled juice and helps lift the rich flavors.
5. Sweeten lightly
Add the simple syrup. Stir the mixture for about 5 seconds to combine the rum, coffee, lime, and syrup before adding the bubbles.
6. Top with ginger beer
Slowly pour the chilled ginger beer over the drink. Pouring gently helps preserve the fizz.
7. Stir once and garnish
Give the cocktail one slow stir to bring the layers together. Garnish with a lime wheel and, if you like, a small piece of candied ginger or fresh ginger.
8. Serve right away
Drink it while the ginger beer is lively and the ice is still cold. The flavor will soften as the ice melts.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Mix the rum, cold brew, lime juice, and simple syrup up to 1 day ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator. Add ice and ginger beer just before serving.
- Storage: This cocktail is best fresh once ginger beer is added. Leftovers will lose fizz, so avoid storing a fully mixed drink.
- Coffee swap: Cold brew works well because it is smooth and low in sharp acidity. If using regular brewed coffee, chill it completely and use a medium or dark roast.
- Sweetness adjustment: For a drier drink, skip the simple syrup. For a sweeter drink, add another 1/4 ounce simple syrup, then taste before adding more.
- Rum swap: Aged rum, black rum, or dark Jamaican-style rum all work. Spiced rum can be used, but it will make the drink sweeter and more vanilla-forward.
- Ginger beer note: Choose ginger beer, not ginger ale, if you want a stronger ginger bite. Ginger ale will make a milder, sweeter cocktail.
Cook's note
This is a dark & stormy-inspired drink with coffee added. It is not a traditional version, but it keeps the familiar rum, lime, and ginger beer structure.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Can I make this cocktail without caffeine?
Yes. Use decaf cold brew or chilled decaf coffee. The flavor will stay close, especially if the coffee is brewed strong.
Can I batch this for a party?
Yes. For 8 drinks, combine 2 cups dark rum, 2 cups cold brew, 1/2 cup lime juice, and 1/2 cup simple syrup in a pitcher. Chill well. To serve, pour 5 ounces of the mixture over ice in each glass and top each with 4 ounces ginger beer.
What kind of ginger beer should I use?
Use a ginger beer you enjoy drinking on its own. A spicy one makes the cocktail sharper and more grown-up, while a sweeter one makes the drink softer.
Can I use espresso instead of cold brew?
You can, but use less. Try 1 ounce chilled espresso plus 1 ounce cold water in place of the 2 ounces cold brew. Straight espresso can make the drink too bitter.
Why does my drink taste flat?
The ginger beer may be warm or opened too early. Chill it well, open it just before mixing, and stir only once after topping the drink.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium11 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate20 g
- 7%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars19 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium7 mg
- 1%
- Iron0.1 mg
- 1%
- Potassium46 mg
- 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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