Paul Kushner
The Cable Car is a must-try cocktail for rum lovers. This modern classic was created by Tony Abou-Ganim, a well-known bartender and mixologist, at the Starlight Room in San Francisco in 1996. The cocktail was named after the city’s iconic cable car system and quickly became a popular choice among patrons.
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The Cable Car is a delicious rum sour that combines spiced rum, orange curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup. The cinnamon and sugar rim adds a touch of sweetness and a hint of spice to the drink, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy a balanced and flavorful cocktail.
History
The Cable Car cocktail is a signature cocktail created by Tony Abou-Ganim in 1996 at the Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. The cocktail was named after the iconic Nob Hill cable cars that pass by the bar, and it quickly became a popular drink on the menu.
Tony Abou-Ganim, also known as The Modern Mixologist, was inspired to create the Cable Car cocktail as a modern twist on the classic Sidecar cocktail. The Sidecar cocktail was a popular drink during the early 20th century, but it had fallen out of favor by the 1990s. Abou-Ganim sought to revive the classic cocktail by adding a few modern twists to the recipe.
The Cable Car cocktail quickly became a hit, and it was soon added to menus at bars and restaurants across the country. Today, it remains a popular drink among cocktail enthusiasts and is often featured on menus at high-end bars and restaurants.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz spiced rum Kraken, Cruzan, Bacardi, or Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
- 3/4 oz orange curaçao Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
- 1 1/2 oz fresh lemon sour or 1 oz fresh lemon juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Cinnamon sugar for rimming the glass
- Orange peel spiral or orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Rim a chilled cocktail glass with cinnamon sugar by rubbing the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge and then dipping it into a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the spiced rum, orange curaçao, and fresh lemon sour.
- Shake well until the shaker is frosty and cold.
- Double-strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel spiral or orange twist.
Variations
There are many variations of the Cable Car cocktail, and each one brings its own unique twist to the classic recipe. Here are a few variations that you can try:
Captain Morgan Cable Car
This variation uses Captain Morgan spiced rum instead of regular spiced rum. It adds a touch of sweetness to the cocktail, making it perfect for those who prefer a sweeter drink.
Marie Brizard Cable Car
For those who love the taste of orange liqueur, the Marie Brizard Cable Car is a great option. This variation uses Marie Brizard orange curaçao instead of regular curaçao. It has a richer, more complex flavor that adds depth to the cocktail.
Nob Hill Cable Car
This variation is named after the famous Nob Hill neighborhood in San Francisco, where the original Cable Car cocktail was created. It uses a blend of spiced rum and brandy, along with lemon juice and curaçao, to create a complex, flavorful cocktail.
