COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK:
Sometimes you just need to channel your inner pirate, and when that day comes there’s really only one drink that will do… RUM! Get ready for ‘The Perfect Storm.‘ In the second installment of Taylor-Made Cocktails, we will be exploring a small twist on an old favourite, the Dark and Stormy. For those of you that have never experienced this delicious cocktail, just know you are in for a treat. There are many impersonators but any real bartender will tell you, there’s nothing quite like a real Dark and Stormy. So, with that in mind, we will explore this old classic, but give it a little extra punch up.
TAYLOR-MADE: THE PERFECT STORM
Rum drinks are great because they always make you feel like you’re at the beach, even if you’re in the middle of the mountains. There’s a reason rum was the drink of choice for the great Ernest Hemingway. A good rum cocktail, especially one like this, warms the soul and gets the creative juices flowing. Let’s explore the art of classic Tiki cocktails and channel our inner Jack Sparrow with a drink that will definitely make you exclaim, “Where’s all the rum gone?!” Here’s what you’ll need:
– Gosling’s Black Seal Rum (80 proof)
– Gosling’s Black Seal Rum (151 proof)
– A few cans of Gosling’s ginger beer
– A few stalks of fresh lemongrass
– One fresh chunk of ginger
– Lots of fresh limes (for juicing and cutting)
– Gumme (plain sugar syrup)
– Tiki Mugs (or some nice high ball glasses)
PREPARATION:
– Firstly, get all your ingredients laid out (you’ll probably want a juicer for this)
– You will also need some basic cocktail making equipment for this drink (shakers, strainers, muddler, jiggers, etc.)
– Get all of your juice ready. You’ll need an ounce of lime juice per drink, so juice accordingly
– Make a lime boat for your 151 floaters. To do this, cut a lime horizontally and use the knife to cut out the pulp inside the skin. You want to make sure there’s as little pulp remaining as possible.
MIXING: (FOR ONE PERSON AT A TIME)
– Cut about 2cm of the lemongrass stalk and about the same amount of the fresh ginger
– Muddle these two in the shaker until they are pulverized and you can see the juice from the ginger
Add the following:
– 2 ounces Gosling’s Black Seal (80 proof)
– 1-ounce fresh lime juice
– 1/2 ounce sugar syrup
SERVING:
– Fill up the rest of the shaker with ice, then shake for about 30 seconds and double strain over ice into Tiki or high ball glass. Top with Gosling’s ginger beer and then you can throw your lime boat on top and add another 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of Gosling’s Black Seal (151 proof). Light the rum in the lime boat on fire, post pictures to Instagram, and enjoy (make sure you blow out the fire before you add your float!)
NOTES:
Aside from looking awesome, this classic cocktail has everything you want: spice, sweetness and a beautiful extra kick. You’ll be sure to impress all of your friends with your new bar-tending skills, and you’ll definitely love this twist on an old classic. Just don’t be surprised when you find out how easily these bad boys go down and how much rum you’ll get through. Cheers!
