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Harrumph!

Actually, Stormy is winning me over. I just like harrumphing. And kudos to Goslings for creating a bit of free press and attention.

The only times I’ve seen a Dark ‘n Stormy on a menu it stated that it used Goslings AND the type of ginger beer. Most of the Dark ‘n Stormy drinks I’ve consumed have been in my own abode using Gosling’s Black Seal (only). But I think most people would have a problem with the type of ginger beer I’ve used! I haven’t used homemade (too lazy so far to try), diet on many an occasion, one high-fructose corn syrup brand…

Ah, the passion for booze, it’s a beautiful thing.

Great looking oven. Where did you get the lights?

I generally trust the Dr. Oetker brand because their baking products in Germany are excellent too.

we've had these in canada for ages. you can never go wrong with the doctor.

I thought Paul Newman's new pizzas were the best frozen pizzas.

Apparently riding the artisanal pizza wave, I've noticed a pizza in the frozen section the other day described as: 'slow fermented' dough made with 00 flour topped with san marzano tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella.

Since I had to defrost my freezer recently (and lose most of its contents) - it may be time for me to check out some of this frozen pizza craziness with some taste testing.

FP

@BananaMonkey - if memory serves me correctly, you are from the Chatham, ON, area. I am from London and I woud like to know where the LIndt factory outlet is located - sounds like a day trip comin' up!

I grew up on Dr Oetker products; for easy preparation I find their brand devine.

I like this product and I've been eating it for a while.
The "Fungi" variety RULES. I swear its awesome.

I'll continue to purchase this product :)

Please, please, can I get instructions for building this oven? My husband and I live in Alabama (no jokes please) and grow heirloom tomatoes, herbs, lots of vegies, fruits and keep bees. I am experimenting on homemade goat mozzarella now and this oven would be glorious in our yard. Thanks for the inspiration, we are also in our 60's and having so much fun. We also lived in Hawaii BC (before children) and grow muscadine and scuppernongs we have made into wine.

The three meat one is amazing! (For a freezer pizza)

I am glad to see that the Dark'n Stormy is getting some press, however I think some are missing the point. I am the Brand Director for Gosling's Rum in Bermuda and an enthusiastic mixologist. We are not attempting by trade marking the Dark’n Stormy to discourage anyone mixing Rum with Ginger Beer. To my knowledge we have never told anyone not to mix there Rum with Ginger Beer.

I appreciate your comments on the Patent, Copyright and Trademark, which are all correct. Dark'n Stormy is a trademark belonging to Gosling's and here in Bermuda we sell a RTD version of the cocktail available in a 12 oz can, as well as cakes, jams and sauces all bearing the Dark’n Stormy name and trademark.

You raise a good point about competition. Competition is great for the consumer and the consumer wants to know what he is getting. By trade-marking our drink we are NOT limiting competition, in fact we encourage it. Ginger Beer is very popular in Bermuda and locals mix all sorts of spirits with it including a variety of other Rums. However if someone orders a Dark'n Stormy they are expecting to get Gosling's Black Seal Rum and Ginger Beer. Quite simply if it is another Rum and Ginger Beer, Zaya for example it is not a Dark'n Stormy therefore they must come up with another name.

Having not seen the Zaya ad either, you are correct in stating technically they can encourage consumers to try Zaya Rum and Ginger Beer rather than having a Dark’n Stormy, they just can not call their creation a Dark’n Stormy. Perhaps call it the Z-Storm or something like that.

We have had similar issues with Cruzan Rum, another brand that we import to Bermuda. In trademark litigation we never threaten a company it is just simply a cease and desist using the name Dark’n Stormy for your Rum and Ginger beer. Get the creative juices flowing and come up with your own name for Rum and Ginger Beer. Trademarks do not stifle creativity rather encourages it.

The Jamaican Mule is a great alternative if using a Jamaican Rum. Moscow Mule is Smirnoff and Ginger Beer and it was the cocktail that started the vodka revolution in North America. The reason others are trying to use the name is simply they are trying to capitalize on the investment Gosling’s Rum has made on the cocktail and the fact it is a cool name. Prior to Gosling’s marketing the Dark’n Stormy outside of Bermuda, Ginger Beer was relatively unknown in the united states and certainly not considered as a cocktail mixer in recent years.

Dark’n Stormy is not a commodity product, it is an original cocktail creation in Bermuda using Gosling’s Rum and Ginger Beer. When you order a Rum and coke you will get whatever Rum the bartender feels like pouring. That is why Bacardi is training there consumers to call it by name Bacardi and Coke. The bartender would not substitute Rum if the consumer asks for Bacardi and Coke, therefore why should anything but Gosling’s Rum be substituted for the Dark’n Stormy.

If Bacardi could prove that the original Mojito and Daiquiri was indeed made with their Rum then would have a chance at getting the trademarks to those names, however they can not. It is difficult to enforce a trademark; however Gosling’s Rum have been doing it for the past several decades.

99.9% of the time when the consumer is not using Gosling’s Rum in the Dark’n Stormy it is not intentional it is because they do not know any better. Therefore we can not be upset with them, however try to educate them about the history of the cocktail and the fact that we have a trademark for the name. Articles like what appeared in the NYT and the various blogs as a result are a great step in beginning to educate the consumer and industry professionals alike about the Dark’n Stormy.

Bundaberg Rum from Australia also has a trademark. There is a story behind this and in fact Bundaberg has the rights to the name Dark’n Stormy, however only in Australia. Every year in November Bermuda plays host to the World Rugby Classic which sees a team from Australia come to Bermuda every year to compete. The Classic has been in existence since the early 1970’s and it was the players who took Bermuda’s National Drink, the Dark’n Stormy back to Australia where Ginger Beer and Rum was also popular. Therefore Bundaberg trademarked the drink in Australia before Gosling’s Rum did. At the moment Gosling’s Rum is not distributed in Australia therefore it is not an issue. However Bundaberg can not promote the Dark’n Stormy with Bundaberg Rum outside of Australia.

The Dark’n Stormy has encoraged several mixologist/bartenders to be creative. An example is the perfect storm, simply a Dark’n Stormy with the addition of pineapple juice, or one of my favorites is the Gold Mint, which is the Gosling’s Gold Bermuda Rum, Ginger Beer and a drop of Crème de Menthe. So my advice to other Rum producers if you want to jump on the Ginger Beer band wagon you had better get creating and come up with your own name for the cocktail. The Dark’n Stormy is a Bermuda Original and the trademark offices agree.

Pblogger's right Raoul and he's certainly done his part to prove that theory. I love Mama's Fish House. Especially when I have an extra $112 to drop on lunch for two. We stayed on the south shore. Had a great dinner in a great setting at Wolfgang Puck's place at The Four Seasons:

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/meet-wolfgang/photos-and-videos/Restaurant/46818

You live the life Duke. Is Pblogger in your driveway yet?

Ciao,

Paulie Gee

@Paulie Lived on Maui from 1988-2001 so the Flatbread folks weren't there yet. I beliecve there is one south of us in Los Alamos, about 2 hours drive. The Kula Lodge has a wood fired oven but never ate there. friends say it's not to bad. I loved Paia town especially Mama's Fish House which is technically in Kuau. Great spot for a evening dinner. We lived on the south end between Kihei and Wailea.