Congratulations! You have made it to fall! All that ice cream, popsicles and Pleases and Sparkles paid off, and now it’s time for apples, turkey and cookie exchanges! In honor of this week of nights blissfully under 100° temperatures, the first day of Autumn (tomorrow!), the dusting off of our tights and knee socks – I give you the Dark and Stormy, but with ginger ale, rather than ginger beer.

Dark & Stormy (with Ginger Ale) by Pastry Affair

Yields 1 serving

2 ounces (59 ml) dark rum
1 ounce (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
6 ounces (177 ml) ginger ale, chilled
Lemon slices and ice, if desired

Pour the rum, lemon juice, and ginger ale in a glass. Serve over ice or garnish with lemon slices, if desired.

I think this is a great last summer hurrah drink, slowly transitioning from the light, citrusy drink of summer into the fall darker-colored, warm-your-chest drinks.