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.
12 Comments
Leave a Reply to Gryffyn Cancel reply
Glad to see this review. Quite like a dark and stormy (even if we don’t have any goslings currently) but did wonder if the branded ginger beer was going to be worth it.
Got any details on distribution in the UK?
Hi Peter,
Definitely worth it I would say. Unfortunately I don’t have any info on distribution although I believe they are looking to sell through the major retailers.
We have distribution through http://www.thedrinkshop.com or Wine Rack…see http://www.lovedrinks.com for more details x
Thanks
Before Goslings put out their own, Barritts Ginger Beer was the de facto standard for a Dark & Stormy. I have both ginger beers at home and find them to be very similar. Both strong without being overly “burny”. i like them both better than Fever Tree and various other sort of gourmet ginger beers (meant to be drank by themselves or as mixers).
I haven’t tried the “Fiery” ginger beer I see in import shops (I’m in the US and it appears “Fiery” comes from your side of the pond) but if you want something a little stronger, I’d highly recommend the Goya ginger beer. It’s almost too strong for me, but still very tasty.
I haven’t made a Dark & Stormy with it, though. I still like the Barritts and Goslings ginger beer for that.
OH! I almost forgot. Goslins makes a pre-mixed Dark & Stormy in little skinny cans.
http://www.goslingsrum.com/microsites/darknstormy.php
They’re *almost* as strong as I make them. I was surprised that a pre-made drink in a can would be any good, but they’re excellent!
I’m having a Hurricane Sandy Survivor Party–to mark the 1 year anniversary.
Gosslings ginger beer is not always easy to find. In calling around to locate some I discovered a local distributor that has Applachian Ginger Beer–***link removed***
they are a craft soda brewer.
Have you ever tasted? or should I keep searching for Gosslings?
Hi Joan,
I’d say any decent ginger beer will be fine.
Hi Geek,
Having grown up on Dark ‘n Stormy’s, I would like to respectfully refute your last statement of “…any decent ginger beer will be fine.”.
While most ginger beer manufacturers would like this to be true, I can say without a doubt, that using different ginger beers (herein after referred to as “gb”) will yield completely different cocktails.
I will start by declaring, yes I said it…declaring, that there is absolutely NO replacement for Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. If you are using any other rum, I suggest you think of a new name for your cocktail. Some try, none are the original.
That said, In the Atlantic, particularly Bermuda and the East Coast US, Barritt’s and Gosling’s are the standards. These two share a similar taste. Smooth and sweet with a deep molasses flavor and a gingery zip that, while very noticeable, is not overpowering. It allows you to truly enjoy the subtle complexity of the Goslings.
Head South to Oz and New Zealand and you have the snappy delight that is Bundeberg gb. They take away the molasses flavor a replace it with a fresher, sugar cane like taste at the same time giving it slightly more pop with the ginger.
There are many other contenders on the market, however I have yet to try any that have the complete package put together like these three. Some come close, but end up with a more medicinal flavor, making it just unpleasurable to drink. Others try and bring it to life with more ginger, thereby overpowering the delight of the Black Seal.
Feel free to mix Gosling’s with anything you like, but to get the original; true flavor of a Dark ‘n Stormy, I submit that there are only three choices. My disclaimer, I’ve probably only tried 100-150 other brands. Also, I don’t work and am not affiliated with any of the above named brands, although I’ve done my best to keep them in business.
Thanks for reading my rant!
Nice review, I appreciate the detail you put into these things.
Just to add something, I’ve seen lots of comments regarding “spicy” ginger beer and what that does for cocktails – I would like to recommend Reed’s “Extra Ginger” ginger beer. It’s the spiciest and most intense gb that I’ve ever experienced, one could be forgiven for thinking that it is actually a liqueur. Might be worth a try.
Gosling is garbage, it uses “All Natural” high fructose corn syrup that makes me sick
Gosling’s ginger beer is good stuff. If you don’t like the ingredients, oh well. Not that different from every soda pop made. Gosling’s partnered with Barritt’s to distribute the product nationwide under their own branding. Taste is the same, and it is what makes dark & stormy or Moscow mule taste “right”. Reed’s ginger brews all incorporate pineapple, spoiling the flavor of the cocktail. Pineapple is a fine thing, but it doesn’t belong in these recipes. If you want to use Reed’s, please rename the cocktail you end up with. Gosling’s rum is the standard for an authentic dark & stormy, but a splendid substitute is Cruzan blackstrap rum. Best substitutes if you can’t get Gosling’s ginger beer: Goya Jamaican ginger beer (super gingery/spicy) or Cock & Bull ginger beer.
Goslings Black Seal rum (dark) and Barritts Ginger.beer is the only way to enjoy a ‘True’ Dark & Stormy. I don’t like the Goslings ginger beer as much, although some have said it is “good enough”. I don’t t want good enough though. Sorry Malcolm…