stormy weather
food detectiveJust went to a charming wedding in West Chop on Martha’s Vineyard. Everywhere you turned there were the most personable touches. It was the quintessential Nor’easter celebration. Lobster rolls and crab cakes. A killer band under a tent with a remarkable view. A bride as stunningly beautiful and unpretentious as the local blooms artfully arranged in Ball jar vases. And these crazy good cocktails called a dark and stormy.
Signature cocktails don’t usually make for my smoothest sailing. The catchy titles and kitschy glassware draw me in but oft times I regret setting down that course. Dirty martinis and I once had a brief affair that landed me with a fabulous shaker, a full set of long stemware and a lock of hair that when I imbibed perpetually fell into my eyes.
But last weekend as the fog burned off and the sun radiated over Nantucket Sound waiters passed trays of Ball jars filled with a zesty concoction of ginger beer and dark rum. Each glass sported a short striped straw with a little flag proclaiming the nuptials. Who could pass on such a declaration?
Ginger beer is an essential ingredient. And Barritt’s is the brand to get.
Followed by a rich dark rum. Gosling’s Black Seal seems to be the pick.
When creating this tempestuous cocktail you need to “build” the ingredients, which means layering one liquid on top of the other. Start with a highball glass full of ice.
Add 2 oz dark rum.
Carefully pour in 3 oz of ginger beer.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
So how did I navigate the evening… . I had a blast dancing with my husband, loved meeting the bride and groom’s friends, misplaced my eyeglasses and stepped on a red velvet cupcake discarded by one of the flower girls. All in all a night to remember.