Goslings began as the venture of James Gosling, an Englishman from Kent who in 1806 came up short on his journey to America and found himself in Bermuda.  In time he and his brother began developing rum there which, through necessity, they poured into champagne bottles.  They sealed those bottles with black wax.  The locals, taken with the spirit, began referring to it as “black seal rum.”  Today bottles of Goslings rum feature a black seal on the label as does their Stormy Ginger Beer.

The Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail is a favorite for those appreciating the taste of ginger beer and originates with Goslings, who created it to feature their rum.  They trademarked the drink and introduced their take on ginger beer to accompany the rum.  So, to this day, a proper Dark ‘n Stormy is an all-Goslings concoction.

I’ve recently returned from an Alaska cruise aboard the Disney Wonder.  For those dreaming of a Dark ‘n Stormy or a Moscow Mule, the bars aboard carry Goslings, meaning it’s available to ginger beer enthusiasts looking for a fix even if it doesn’t appear on the menu.

Looking back at the can, there’s 190 calories within.  Carbonated water kicks off the ingredient list as usual with the much rarer high fructose corn syrup following.  Next is the hilarious “natural ginger beer flavor” which is an oroboros of an ingredient as you clearly need the ginger beer’s flavor to create the “natural ginger beer flavor” ingredient but how can you create the ginger beer in the first place if you don’t yet have the “natural ginger beer flavor?”  Citric acid, gum acacia and ester gum round out the list.

Goslings produces notable fizz when poured and possesses a cloudy appearance, practically opaque.  The aroma is of ginger swathed in sweetness.

A nova of sweet appears first, preceding a burst of ginger that seems to grow more natural tasting as it develops.  A touch of heat moves through the mouth, leaving prickles at the back of the throat, just a kiss lingering on the tongue and roof.  The traditional formula means there’s not a lot to distract from the ginger flavor which hangs on longer than expected.  While that first blush of sweetness carries weight, subsequent sips grow lighter, bringing it beautifully in balance. 

The black seal may be a play on words but it’s also a seal of quality.  This is a strong entry, both impactful and drinkable and thankfully easy to find.

Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring

Purchased at: The Disney Wonder cruise ship | Widely available but you could always order it from Target.

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Barritts (no apostrophe) Bermuda Stone Ginger Beer is a carbonated-water-based offering which features a few puzzling ingredients like the natural extract of quillaia bark and neutral cloud, which probably refused to take a side in WWII.  The label goes on to say it’s flavored with natural and artificial ginger but you’ll find no sediment to tump.  Sugar is the sweetener of choice here and a touch of caramel coloring made the cut as well.

You can have it in a bottle of assorted sizes, or even a can if you’re tubing the river.  Mine was a 12oz glass bottle, clear as day so you can see the near-white color of the drink—an enjoyable detail.  The background color of the label is evocative of the copper mug you’d find your Moscow Mule served in.  The design is not overly done, featuring what I presume is an ancient logo, but the typeface for GINGER BEER is ghastly.

Barritts will cost you a pretty stout 200 calories.  Though if that’s too much a diet version is available—which we’ll get into in a later post.

When tasting, a rich sweetness overlays the ginger flavor which lacks the depth given by fresh root.  Taking place almost entirely on the mid-tongue, the flavor is simple, hitting all at once, and a bit one-note.  Carbonation level is on the milder side of moderate, enough to bubble up your drink a bit when using it as a mixer.  You’ll find little if any heat here, making it easy to drink but lacking the punch of a stronger variety.

If your preference is for extra sweet ginger beers with no heat, this is one for you.  My desires don’t follow that path as I’m a fan of spiciness and found it a bit too sugary.  It’s worth trying for sure and there’s certainly a fan base for it.  Personally I’d call it average but would be comfortable recommending it to the right kind of person.  Any drink that’s been around as long as this one certainly has something going for it.

Final Decision: Third Tier – Enjoyable

Purchased locally at: Spec’s  |  Also available locally at: Total Wine | Online availability at: Antiqology, Beverages Direct (in 6-pack bottles, 12-pack bottles and 12-pack cans), Soda Emporium (in singles, 4-packs and a case), Soda Pop Stop

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