So it's come to this...

Here we have two drinks from a semi-local suburbian restaurant & bar. The first is a butchered attempt at Cory Reistad's San Francisco variation on the Sidecar... cleverly called the Cable Car, and the second is something with FRESCA! (I could hardly wait to type the word.) Tanqueray Rangpur, Grand Marnier, FRESCA! and a twist of lemon. Ahem. FRESCA?!

One of my favorite stories about fabulous trashy bar patrons was relayed to me by a good friend who works downtown. He told me about this woman who ordered round after round of freaky tequila, red bull, and lemon juice cocktails in various ratios. She finally gave up, drunk off her wedges, and just said, "If you get it just right, it tastes just like Smirnoff Ice and Fresca!"... (please see below)

The Trashy Lady in Wedges (not the real drink name,) tastes a lot like what you might expect from a drink made of three very sweet components by a day bartender. Meh.

I love the Cable Car. And since I'm a total bitch, I ordered it off the menu because I was certain it was going to be wrong. The ingredients listed Pyrat as the rum (fancy, but it's not spiced,) and it was syrupy and schlep, using sour mix (or way too little lemon juice,) and about a quart of Grand Marnier.

I recently heard a great barman by the name of James Meehan say something interesting about the Cable Car. He said that people have forgotten the value of really simple drinks with components that anybody can get ahold of. Drinks like the Cable Car are making it possible for bars everywhere to have good drinks on their menus with limited and easily managed inventories. They're also making bartenders like Cory Reistad famous...

Here's how I like the Cable Car:

1.5 oz Spiced Rum, (I like Sailor Jerry's)
.5 oz. Cointreau or a good triple sec
Fresh lemon juice to taste (I like about .5 oz)
Shake. Serve up in a glass with a sugary rim.

Try one of these at Bardenay or Bittercreek in Boise... Or, if you're in San Francisco, try one at the Starlite Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.