Cable Car Cocktail

Tiffany Manners

The Cable Car Cocktail is a modern classic born out of 1990s San Francisco cocktail culture, a citrus-forward spiced riff on the Sidecar. It was created by Tony Abou-Ganim at the Starlight Room, a rooftop bar famed for its golden-age glamour. This drink packs a sophisticated yet welcoming punch—zesty orange notes, warm baking spices from spiced rum, and the delicate zing of fresh lemon juice come together to create a cocktail that is equally suitable for an aperitif or a nightcap.

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings cocktail

Calories 258 kcal

Equipment

Cocktail shaker
Fine mesh strainer
Jigger
Martini or coupe glass
Zester (optional)

Ingredients

1.5 oz spiced rum use a quality brand like Captain Morgan or Sailor Jerry
0.75 oz orange curaçao use a premium brand like Ferrand Dry Curaçao or Cointreau
1 oz fresh lemon juice freshly squeezed only for optimal flavor
0.5 oz simple syrup 1:1 ratio, made fresh with equal parts sugar and water
1 tbsp superfine sugar for rimming the glass
1 pinch ground cinnamon to mix with sugar for the rim
1 piece lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

Start by preparing your glass. Mix 1 tablespoon of superfine sugar with a pinch of ground cinnamon in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a chilled martini or coupe glass with a lemon wedge, then rotate the rim through the sugar-cinnamon mix to coat. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, combine 1.5 oz of spiced rum, 0.75 oz orange curaçao, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.5 oz simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosted and the drink inside is thoroughly chilled.
Strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer into the prepared glass to create a smooth texture free from ice shards and citrus pulp.
Garnish with a fresh lemon twist expressed over the glass to release oils, then rest it delicately on the rim or drop it gently into the drink.

Notes

For a smokier variation, try replacing the spiced rum with a barrel-aged rum.
You can make the cinnamon-sugar rim in bulk: Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon and store in an airtight container.
If you prefer a slightly drier taste, reduce the simple syrup to 0.25 oz.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg

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