Salted Apple Butter Dark and Stormy

The most perfect of all the fall cocktails, to me, this Salted Apple Butter Dark and Stormy is where it’s at. Spicy, sweet, and with just a bit of salt to help temper it all – this is SUCH a delicious thing to sip on all season long, and it’s really simple to make.

Ginger and apples are already very well acquainted, so it’s not much of a flavor stretch to pair the two via the apple butter and ginger beer in this drink – it just makes such good sense. For my money, I like a good dark rum, a spicy ginger beer, and a whole lot of lime. Spicy and sweet is just about my favorite flavor duo of all time – I’m a wee bit obsessed – and this drink hits those notes masterfully.

What is a Dark & Stormy?

A bubbly, carbonated rum-based cocktail, a dark and stormy consists of the following:

Dark rum + Ginger beer + Lime juice

So, it’s a lot like a Moscow mule, but with rum instead of vodka. Or, like a Kentucky mule, but with rum instead of bourbon. You get the idea …

What is the best rum to use in a Dark & Stormy?

While dark rum is traditional in a dark and stormy (as the name would suggest) I kind of love a good spiced rum. The spice, to me, is what makes this such a delicious cocktail, and I want it wherever I get can get it. Speaking of which – I add a dash (technically, 1/8 tsp) of cayenne pepper to my apple butter mix here, and I try to find the spiciest ginger beer I can get my hands on, and the same goes for the apple butter.

So, I personally like a spiced rum almost more than a dark one, but I think you’re going to find that you almost can’t go wrong in the rum department here. Just use what you have on hand or what you know you like, opting for dark if you just really are unsure.

Don’t spring for the top shelf stuff here – I think those liquors should be reserved for preparations where they aren’t mixed with other potent things, like ginger beer, lime, spices, and apple butter. Just grab a bottle of rum that’s affordable and that you’d be likely to drink on other occasions.

But, my personal favorite is the black spiced rum from Kraken. It’s delish. Here’s a nice bit about spiced rums that might get you inspired to go out and try a few. To me, it’s tied with bourbon for the best boozy sipper of fall.

Salted Apple Butter Dark and Stormy: The Breakdown

What You’ll Need:

2 tsp apple butter (store-bought)

¼ tsp salt (or to taste)

Dash of cayenne (optional)

Juice of half a lime, plus more to taste

4 oz. dark rum or spiced rum

Ginger beer, to finish

How to Make Them:

Fill a highball glass with ice (or whatever glass you like; copper mule cups work great, too). In a liquid measuring cup, stir together the apple butter, salt, cayenne, and lime juice. When blended, spoon over the ice. Top with the rum, followed by your desired amount of ginger beer and any more lime juice that you’d like. Stir to blend, and enjoy. 

If you like the looks of this Salted Apple Butter Dark & Stormy, you might want to check out:

Cranberry Vanilla Old Fahsioned

Minty Cherry Limeade

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