This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
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 the base spirit. It is a dry white wine made in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain with palomino grapes and aged under a layer of yeasts. We used Lustau Solera Reserva Light Manzanilla Sherry. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Non-Alcoholic Sherry Flavoring in place of the sherry.
Aperitivo Cappelletti Americano Rosso: This is a bitter liqueur made in Italy with wine, citrus, herbs, spices, and natural carmine. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Giffard Aperitif Syrup in place of the amaro.
Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. We used Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey because it has a nice spiced flavor with notes of vanilla, pepper, and herbs. For a mocktail version of this drink, try The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Orgeat Syrup: This is a sweetener made with roasted almonds, orange blossom, sugar, and water. We used Liber & Co. Almond Orgeat Syrup because it’s delicious and high quality.
Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Orange Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Non-Alcoholic Orange Bitters in place of the orange bitters.
Orange Blossom Water: This is a flavored water made by steeping orange blossoms in water. We used Cortas Premium Orange Blossom Water because it’s high quality.
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. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We 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. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Mortar & Pestle Set: This is used to crush ingredients. We used the Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Granite Mortar & Pestle Set.
Tasting Notes
The Barber of Seville features nutty orange aromas, a taste of lemon-accented whiskey bite combined with sherry earthiness, and an aftertaste strong with this amaro’s unique herbal flavor mingled with sweet nutty and fruity notes.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Honestly, this recipe is so tasty that neither of us could believe the Barber of Seville doesn’t show up on menus or blogs more often! We were both blown away by how well everything harmonizes to create a truly unique cocktail worthy of an encore.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“For a drink with so many unique and disparate ingredients, they all work very well together. The recipe has a delightful lemon sourness to it that is assisted by the amaro, and the finish has plenty of the amaro’s unique flavors on the palate. The orgeat plays a supporting role, and you can’t really tell it’s there. But it does lend a nuttiness to the mixture that complements the sherry’s taste. The only thing I didn’t really understand was the almonds on top, but their presence makes sense with the other ingredients.”—
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.
Add sherry, rye, Aperitivo Cappelletti, lemon juice, orgeat syrup, orange bitters, orange flower water, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass or julep tin over fresh crushed ice.
Crush almonds in a mortar and pestle.
Garnish with crushed almonds and orange peel strips.
Ingredients
Directions
Add sherry, rye, Aperitivo Cappelletti, lemon juice, orgeat syrup, orange bitters, orange flower water, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass or julep tin over fresh crushed ice.
Crush almonds in a mortar and pestle.
Garnish with crushed almonds and orange peel strips.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Non-Alcoholic Sherry Flavoring in place of the sherry, Giffard Aperitif Syrup in place of the amaro, The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey, and All The Bitter Non-Alcoholic Orange Bitters in place of the orange bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Shop Glassware & Tools
Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.
More Campari Cocktails
If you like this Campari-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that are similar that you may enjoy:
Jungle Bird: A rum cocktail made with Campari, lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and a lime wheel
Old Pal: A whiskey cocktail made with dry vermouth, Campari, and an orange twist
Garibaldi: A Campari cocktail made with orange juice and an orange slice
Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-04-15.
