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If you are looking for a deliciously sweet martini-like recipe, this is drink for you. A Cable Car Cocktail mixes sweet rum and orange curaçao with simple syrup for an refreshing drink that’s the perfect amount of sweet.
What is a Cable Car Martini?
A Cable Car Martini is a classic drink recipe will have you immediately transported into a San Francisco with every sip. Similar to a sidecar or brandy crusta, this drink, created by Tony Abou-Ganim for the Starlight Room, is quite unique and flavorful. The flavors in a drink like this pull from so many different places, but they work together to create this sweet and spicy masterpiece. The ingredients sound weird together but they work – trust me!
I put a cinnamon-sugar mixture around the rim for a sweet surprise twist to this modern classic. Add an orange twist and this drink is good to go. If you like sweet orange and spiced rum flavors, this signature cocktail is for you.
Ingredients Needed
- Spiced Rum: I used Captain Morgan spiced rum but you can use any brand.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bit of acidity and freshness
- Triple Sec: The orange pairs with the spice of the rum, and adds sweetness. This is also called orange liqueur or cointreau.
- Simple Syrup: If you like your cocktail less sweet, you can omit or add to taste.
- Garnish: Instead of a plain sugar rim added a mixture of cinnamon sugar to the rim of a chilled cocktail glass.
How to make a Cable Car
- To rim your chilled cocktail glass, place honey or corn syrup on a shallow plate. Place cinnamon sugar on a second small plate. Dip coupe glass upside down in the honey, then in the cinnamon sugar to adhere it to the rim.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add spiced rum, lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously. Pour into glass.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Expert Tips
- While simple syrup is not the only thing that adds sweetness to this cocktail (orange curacao is sweet too), you can add a little bit less if you want the drink less sweet.
- If you have it, use fresh lemon juice instead.
- Pop your glass in the freezer for a few minutes before you make the drink so that the martini stays cold longer.
FAQs
Martinis and shaken drinks like this are best made to order.
Cable Car Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces spiced rum
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- ¾ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Honey or corn syrup for rim
- Cinnamon Sugar for rim
- Orange Twist for garnish
Instructions
- Place honey or corn syrup on a shallow plate. Place cinnamon sugar on a second small plate. Dip coupe glass upside down in the honey, then in the cinnamon sugar to adhere it to the rim. Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add spiced rum, lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously. Pour into glass.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
