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Cable Car Cocktail

The Cable Car cocktail captures the essence of San Francisco in a glass, blending the sweetness of rum with the tartness of lime and the warm spice of falernum. This drink balances sweet and tart beautifully, with silky smooth texture and perfectly balanced flavors that can be made in under five minutes.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Course: Drinks and Beverages
Cuisine: American
Calories: 185
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 2 ounces light rum gold or aged
  • 0.75 ounces fresh lime juice squeezed from fresh limes
  • 0.5 ounces falernum liqueur
  • 0.25 ounces orange-flavored liqueur Cointreau or triple sec
  • 2 dashes bitters Angostura or orange bitters
  • Ice fresh, for shaking and serving
  • 1 lime wheel for garnish
  • 1 cinnamon stick optional, for garnish

Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger or measuring glass
  • Bar strainer
  • Cocktail glass or coupe glass
  • Bar spoon
  • Citrus juicer
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Method
 

  1. Place your cocktail or coupe glass in the freezer for at least five minutes before you start mixing.
  2. Pour 2 ounces of light or aged rum into your jigger, then transfer it into your cocktail shaker.
  3. Cut a fresh lime in half and juice it until you get 0.75 ounces of juice, straining out any pulp or seeds.
  4. Measure 0.5 ounces of falernum into your jigger and pour it into the shaker with the rum.
  5. Pour 0.25 ounces of Cointreau or triple sec into the shaker.
  6. Add 2 to 3 dashes of Angostura or orange bitters to the shaker, then fill it halfway with fresh ice.
  7. Seal the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for 10 to 12 seconds until frost forms on the outside of the shaker.
  8. Remove your chilled glass from the freezer and strain the cocktail into it using your bar strainer.
  9. Express the oils from a lime wheel over the drink by twisting it above the surface, then drop it in as garnish. If you have a cinnamon stick on hand, add it across the rim for visual appeal.

Notes

Always use freshly squeezed lime juice and shake hard for the full 10 to 12 seconds. These two steps separate an okay Cable Car from one that tastes like a professional bartender made it. Chill your glass ahead of time so the drink stays cold throughout the whole experience. Source a quality aged rum with some color and character rather than the cheapest white rum you find.