Bermuda’s trademark cocktail was celebrated yesterday on International Dark ‘n’ Stormy Day.

Gosling’s, the manufacturer of the Black Seal Rum that combines with ginger beer to make the popular tipple, held a series of online events on Facebook and Instagram to mark the occasion.

It was a double celebration, as the company was also celebrating the 40th anniversary of registration of the trademark for dark ‘n’ stormy on June 9, 1980.

Yesterday’s string of social-media events, stretching from 10am to 6pm, replaced a much grander celebration that was put off as a result of Covid-19, Andrew Holmes, Gosling’s rum brand director, said.

“The initial plan was to break a world record that was set in Copenhagen, Denmark, where they made a 1,000-litre dark ‘n’ stormy for a music festival in the city,” he said.

“It was registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest dark ‘n’ stormy.

“The plan was to beat that record. However, as the pandemic set in, it was obvious that we would not be able to pull that off. We’ll try to do that at a later date.”

Yesterday’s celebration was initially planned for June 9, but was put back two weeks to show support for the US racial equality movement.

“I think it was appropriate to maintain silence on social media to allow the right voices to be heard,” Mr Holmes said.

“It would have gone against all our company values to try and compete with that.”

Gosling’s started exporting to the US 40 years ago. Since then the dark ‘n’ stormy has gained an international fanbase.

“Dark ‘n’ stormy is among the top 20 most ordered cocktails in the world, according to Drinks International,” Mr Holmes said.

Yesterday was about celebrating all the people who have made the cocktail everything that it is today, Malcolm Gosling Jr said.

“Many Bermudians are ambassadors for the brand and the importers and distributors, bar owners and bartenders ­— they have all played their part,” Mr Gosling added.

“And this day was about celebrating them. To come this far really is something to celebrate.”