Review – Gosling’s Ginger Beer

Few cocktails manage to rise to the challenge of being commonly known amongst the non cocktail-imbibing public, and fewer still manage to be actually worthy of drinking by those who do enjoy a mixed drink or two. The Dark and Stormy is however one such example, and of course it is ‘supposed’ to be made using Gosling’s Dark rum. Given that by volume at least, ginger beer is the majority ingredient of this cocktail, it certainly makes sense that Gosling’s would consider producing their own a sensible step.

Neat: It is rare that I find myself agreeing with the marketing blurb that accompanies every product, but the claim that it is neither too sweet nor too fiery from the ginger is most definitely correct. The fizz is also rather restrained, and the overall effect is of a ginger beer with a pleasing savouriness and balance.

Mixing: The signature Dark and Stormy is certainly appropriately coloured, with a deep burnt orange hue fluorescing from the glass. If the balance of flavours were enjoyable neat, there are even more so when mixed, as the rum is permitted to shine through in a manner that wouldn’t be the case were the sweetness or ginger out of kilter.  The butterscotch and vanilla elements of the rum sing above the ginger beer which offers a balancing deep note to create a cocktail whose deliciousness to simplicity quotient is most definitely skewed towards the high side.

Signature Cocktail – Dark ‘n’ Stormy

2oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, 1oz Lime Juice, 0.5oz Sugar Syrup, Gosling’s Ginger Beer
Shake ingredients except ginger beer with ice and strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Gosling’s Ginger Beer is a balanced and easy-drinking ginger beer that is enjoyable neat, but just perfect in a Dark ‘n’ Stormy. Rating: ★★★

★: Terrible, only drink for a dare.
★★: Meh, not undrinkable but best left alone.
★★★: Reasonable, middle of the road.
★★★★: Tasty stuff, well worth seeking out.
★★★★★: Incredible, booze doesn’t get better than this. You need a bottle in your life.