So here we are at the start of my Rum Revolution!

I’ve loved rum for as long as I can remember. But my tastes have moved on from that first sticky rum and coke.

Ask anyone the question “Do you like gin?” and you would be almost guaranteed a positive result of around 70%. But ask the same about rum and the response is lacklustre. People look confused. They seem to not have a definite feeling either way on the spirit. Yet ask if they like a Mojito, a Mai Tai or a Pina Colada and you start getting nods and smiles. You can see memories of beach holidays and nights out at nice cocktail bars.

Rum just doesn’t seem to have made the leap into the home bar as much as it’s other spirit companions. Most people will have a dusty bottle of Morgans Spiced or Bacardi somewhere in the back of a cupboard for their Auntie Nancy at New Year. But rarely do much with it themselves. Over the next few months I hope to inspire people to try out some of the amazing rums that are around. And also to feel a bit more confident in whipping up some easy cocktails themselves. I’ve just started learning a lot more about rum myself so you can join me on my discovery and hopefully you will share my geeky love of the history of drinks!

So to kick off I am sharing an easy and amazing rum cocktail that is quick to whip up at home as well as being a great alternative to ask for in a bar. The Dark ‘n’ Stormy is an easy cocktail to prepare with just three indredients. But it presents a bit of a problem for us mixology lovers.

To be called a Dark ‘n’ Stormy you have to use Goslings Dark Seal Rum as they trademarked the name. The story goes that in a ginger beer factory in Bermuda just after the First World War some sailors discovered how well the soft drink went wth the local rum – Goslings. And the cocktail was born. A sailor is said to is said to have noted that the mixture looked like a storm cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under. And so the name Dark ‘n’ Stormy was invented and Gosling’s are very protective of it.

So although I don’t have anything against Gosling’s rum, it’s not my favourite – and I love breaking the rules. I just can’t call it a Dark ‘n’ Stormy so I shall call this a Cloudy Night!

• 50ml dark rum
• 10ml fresh lime juice
• double dash of Orange Bitters
• 150ml ginger ale

– To a short glass add plenty of ice
– Add rum and lime juice
– Top with ginger ale and then splash on the bitters and give a low stir.

I use the orange bitters as I love the zing they bring, but to be honest, to start off you could just leave them out and see how you get on. And a real Dark ‘n’ Storny only has rum, ginger and lime.

Use an aged rum like this Kirk and Sweeney and you get a deeper flavour or go out and do it right with some Gosling’s!

I am going to be exlporing the different types of rums next week and what they actually mean so please stay tuned.

What do you think about the Dark ‘n’ Stormy? Have you tried one?

As always I love hearing your thoughts.

Pam x