I was 8 years old when I watched the movie Twister and became obsessed with the idea of storm chasing. I loved thunderstorms and that eerie feeling right before a tornado would hit. I remember once I was home alone and the sirens went off. I then set about the task of hauling the rabbit cage, the dog in his kennel, and our cat downstairs and setting up a stool in the shower to wait it out, but kept running upstairs to peek out the window and see what was happening. If you grew up in the Midwest, having a candle supply and toting your battery operated radio down to the basement during tornado season is just something you get used to.
We’ve only had a few tornado scares so far this year, but it sparked the idea of concocting a traditional Dark and Stormy cocktail, but with a few alterations and of course spinning it into, The Midwest Twister! I used a homemade blackberry infused rum, fresh lime juice, local honey, and topped it off with ginger beer making for a sweet, crisp, and spicy mix. I also threw in a few elements to pay homage to the film, like Aunt Meg’s yard decor and of course the infamous cow flying across their path. A few of these will definitely calm the nerves of anyone afraid of storms and at the very least make your basement wait a bit more enjoyable!
