The Sailor’s Choice: How to Make Explorer at Large Bob Ballard’s Go-To Dark ‘n Stormy®

But, what would an online recipe blog post be without a compelling, and long, story ahead of it? In fact, it’s most often evidence that the recipe is going to be exceptionally good.

Bob Ballard’s legacy is one of legends, so it would be impossible to fit the scale of his global impact into one singular blog post. That’s why today we’re going to dive deeper into how he discovered the RMS Titanic, and then we’ll get to the Dark ‘n Stormy® recipe.

Bob Ballard: The Man Who Redefined Oceanography

Meet Explorer at Large Robert “Bob” Ballard — retired U.S. Navy officer, oceanographer and marine geologist who has redefined oceanography through his iconic career.

During his long career, he has conducted more than 150 deep-sea expeditions using the latest in exploration technology. Most notably, he has made numerous historic discoveries of contemporary and ancient shipwrecks around the world like the German battleship Bismarck, President Kennedy’s PT 109 and, of course, the RMS Titanic.

So, how does he do it? Let’s take a look at one of the most historic shipwreck discoveries of all time.

The Story of Finding the RMS Titanic

Searching for the Titanic was actually a cover for a highly classified military operation to investigate two nuclear submarines that had sunk during the Cold War — the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion. The RMS Titanic was located between the two submarines. “And quite honestly, had that not been the case, you wouldn’t be looking at the guy that found the Titanic,” explained Bob.

The United States Navy wanted photo documentation of both of the shipwreck sites, as well as information on what the state of the nuclear reactors and weapons were — in other words, was there any evidence that the Soviet Union had been to either submarine site? But, the expedition had to be covert.

So, Bob suggested to the Secretary of the Navy at the time, John Lehman, and Admiral Thunman, “What if we use the Titanic as the cover?” And, they were off.

Bob and his team investigated both submarine wreck sites, and once they had what they needed for the naval mission, they had 12 days remaining to search for the Titanic.

While investigating the cause of the submarine wrecks, Bob learned that heavier debris sank faster, which meant that lighter ship pieces and debris created a trail that could be followed to the wreck. And so Bob thought, “Didn’t the Titanic do the same thing?”

Using that methodology, they scoured for the RMS Titanic. On the last day of the search, around 2 a.m., the wreckage came on the screen during the late night watch.

And, the team remembered something very moving in that moment — the RMS Titanic had sunk at 2:20 a.m. “You have finally put to rest these souls that were lost, and everyone filed out, and it was a moment of silence, because we were there. And that was pretty powerful,” said Bob.

A Lifelong Love of the Ocean

Bob was originally born in Wichita, Kansas. After World War II, his family moved to San Diego and lived in a house right on the ocean, which was a dream come true for the young boy who loved the novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and wanted to be Captain Nemo.

San Diego is known for both as a “Navy Town” due to the three active US Navy bases in the area, and it is also home to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the world’s greatest ocean research centers. “Between Scripps and the Navy, you get Bob Ballard, who wanted to be in the ocean,” explained Bob.

While Bob might be partial to the Pacific Ocean, he has made a global impact through his groundbreaking oceanography research. And, that calls for a cheers (or two).

The Dark ‘n Stormy® Recipe

Like any good sailor, Bob’s favorite drink, the Dark ‘n Stormy®, is naturally inspired by his love of the ocean. So, without further ado, here’s the recipe and instructions so that you can make your own version in honor of Bob.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Goslings Black Seal Rum
• 4 to 5 ounces Goslings Ginger Beer
• Ice cubes
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Pour in the ginger beer.
3. Slowly float the dark rum on top by pouring it directly onto the ice. This creates the signature "stormy cloud" layered look.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.
5. Be sure to stir the drink thoroughly before sipping, as Bob considers this a "must."

Meet Us at the Ballard Bar

Bob might be partial to how the Ballard Bar at the MOE makes his favorite drink, but he knows that any Dark ‘n Stormy® will do. We hope you enjoy, and be sure to stop by his namesake bar and learn more about Bob’s legacy when you visit the museum.

Legal Disclaimer

Dark ‘n Stormy® is a registered trademark of Gosling Brothers Limited. The recipe is published strictly for education and editorial purposes. Reference to Goslings Black Seal Rum is made solely to accurately reflect the trademarked preparation of this beverage. National Geographic Society is not sponsored, endorsed by, or affiliated with Gosling Brothers Limited.

The alcoholic recipes featured are intended exclusively for responsible enjoyment by adults of legal drinking age (21 years of age or older in the United States). Always drink responsibly and know your limits.