Myers's Original Dark Rum

Myers's Original Dark Rum is a dark rum, so expect a fuller, darker style than a white or gold bottling: molasses-driven sweetness, brown sugar, caramel and baking spice, with the dried-fruit and toasted notes common to the category. Rums in this style usually have a rounder, heavier body than light rums. That makes this a bottle to choose when you want the rum to stay noticeable in a mixed drink instead of disappearing behind the other ingredients. Dark rum's richness suits long, citrus-bright drinks. In a Dark 'n' Stormy, pour it over the top of ginger beer so the rum floats as a dark layer, and add a squeeze of lime to cut the sugar. A Mai Tai calls for a dark rum float over lime, orgeat and orange curaçao. In a Daiquiri, a dark rum gives a deeper, more caramelised result than the usual white rum, so keep the lime fresh and the sugar light. Rum and cola with a wedge of lime is the simplest option, and the rum's depth holds up well against the cola's sweetness. For glassware, use a highball or Collins glass for ginger beer and cola drinks, filled with plenty of cold, solid ice so it dilutes slowly. A rocks glass suits a Daiquiri variation or a simple pour over a single large cube, which opens up the aroma without watering the rum down quickly. Lime wedges are the standard garnish. An orange peel or a thin slice of fresh ginger also works well with the molasses and spice notes. For a neat or on-the-rocks pour, serve at cool room temperature or over one cube, and give it a moment to open up. Dark rum also pairs well with grilled pineapple, banana desserts, jerk-style spiced meats and dark chocolate.