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Cable Car
Posted: July 21, 2026
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About
The Cable Car is a modern classic created by Tony Abou-Ganim at the Top of the Mark bar in San Francisco in 1996, named after the city's iconic cable car system. Built on a spiced rum base with triple sec and fresh lemon juice — essentially a Sidecar riff with spiced rum swapped for Cognac — it is typically served in a glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar, which complements the warm vanilla and spice notes of the rum beautifully. Bright, citrusy, and gently warming with a hint of sweetness from the rimmed glass, the Cable Car is a cocktail that perfectly showcases why spiced rum deserves a place in elevated cocktail culture.
Instructions
- Prepare a cinnamon sugar rim: mix 1 tablespoon of sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon on a small plate. Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of a chilled coupe or martini glass, then dip the rim into the cinnamon sugar.
- Combine spiced rum, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
- Fine-strain into the prepared rimmed glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or wheel.