Barber of Seville

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Cocktail History

The Barber of Seville is a modern cocktail that was created by Will Elliott at Maison Premiere in New York City, New York. It is described as similar to an inverted Mint Julep or Sherry Swizzle because it pairs a sherry base with spicy rye whiskey. It then rounds out the spirits with the unique flavor of Aperitivo Cappelletti Americano Rosso, orgeat syrup, citrus, and orange blossom water.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Manzanilla Sherry: This is a type of sherry made with white grapes, water, and yeast, which are fermented, fortified with brandy, and then aged under flor yeast in coastal conditions to develop a dry, slightly saline flavor.

Aperitivo Cappelletti Americano Rosso: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of herbs, spices, and citrus, wine, distilled alcohol, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bittersweet, lightly citrusy flavor.

Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% fermented rye grain, malted barley, corn, and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in new charred oak barrels to develop a spicy, robust flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Orgeat Syrup: This is a sweetener made with almonds, white sugar, and water, which are blended and flavored with orange flower water to develop a nutty, floral sweetness.

Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.

Orange Flower Water: This is a floral distillate made with orange blossoms and water, which are steam-distilled to develop a delicate, floral aroma.

Marcona Almonds: This is a large and sweet nut that is native to Spain.

Orange Peel Strips: This is an orange peel that has been cut into small strips.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Mortar & Pestle Set: This is used to crush ingredients. I used the Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Granite Mortar & Pestle Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Coral orange color

• Aroma: Nutty citrus

• Taste: Lemon-accented whiskey flavor with earthy sherry

• Finish: Strong herbal amaro with nutty sweetness

Kendall’s Take: “I had never tried the amaro used in this drink before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect in a cocktail that calls for a sherry base. I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would. The Barber of Seville is delightfully citrusy and has a pleasant sourness that makes you want to keep right on sipping. It’s an odd one, but I would drink this again.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.