Barraquito: A Layered and Liquored Coffee Drink from the Canary Islands

Local lore attributes the origin of this beverage to a man named Sebastián Barraco Rubio, a regular bar patron of Bar Imperial in Tenerife.

Nicknamed Barraquito as a friendly term of endearment amongst his bar mates, Sebastian would often order the same concoction of ingredients to go along with his coffee during his visits to the bar: a mix of condensed milk, Licor 43, lemon peel, and cinnamon.

Because his standing order became such an expected norm, the bar eventually named the cocktail after him, and continued to serve it publicly to a growing number of interested patrons.

Like most cocktails, you will find subtle variations with the final assembly, as well as the ratios of ingredients. It can also be served in larger mugs or smaller glassware.

In this recipe, we serve a smaller version that’s ideal to begin a day of lounging, or to enjoy as a digestif after a relaxing dinner.

Produced in Cartagena, Spain, Licor 43 is the preferred choice of liqueur for barraquito. Gorgeously golden in color, the recipe is a secret infusion of 43 assorted Mediterranean citrus fruits and botanicals.

While most of the ingredients are common to find in grocery stores, you’ll need to purchase the liqueur from a specialty wine and spirits retailer.

If Licor 43 is unavailable, you can still enjoy the essence of this beverage with a suitable replacement – use an equal amount of your favorite brandy, cognac, or spiced rum instead.

Start, or end, the day with a zesty Spanish specialty – head to the recipe now!

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Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep

Set out two 2-ounce clear glass shooters – you want to be able to see the layers you build, so choose transparent glassware.

A taller shot glass works well for this particular assembly, as the layers will be thicker and more pronounced than a shorter, squatter option. Available in packs of 12 on Amazon, Yuleer sells both a wide-mouth set and a straight set of 2-ounce shot glasses that will be perfect for this recipe.

Prepare your appliance for making strong coffee or espresso, using the appropriate amount of water to brew about 1/4 cup total.

Fresh is best! Measure and grind the amount of whole beans recommended for your appliance to create a strong brew. Feel free to use decaf coffee, if you don’t want the jittery buzz.

Measure out the sweetened condensed and whole milk, as well as the liqueur. Set out the ground cinnamon.

Use a vegetable peeler to remove two small strips of peel from a lemon.

Step 2 – Brew Coffee

Brew your coffee or espresso, according to your appliance’s directions. Be sure to read about our easiest coffee hacks for simple home improvements!

I like transferring the coffee to a liquid measuring cup, or some other small vessel with a spout. This makes it easier to pour when you’re assembling.

Step 3 – Warm and Froth the Milk

As the coffee is brewing, warm and froth the milk. This is easy to do on the stovetop in just a minute or two.

Place the milk in a small saucepot, and warm just until it starts to gently steam without boiling. Immediately remove the pot from the heat, and froth it for a few seconds with a handheld frothing wand.

Similar to the brewed coffee, I prefer transferring the liquid to a spouted cup for clean and easy pouring.

Step 4 – Build the Layers

For quickest and cleanest assembly, set your station: in a row, set out the sweetened condensed milk, the liqueur, the brewed coffee, and the foam along with a small, metal spoon. Place the two shooters directly in front of you, and the cinnamon and lemon peel to the side.

Place 1 teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk in the bottom of each shot glass. Stay neat here to keep the layers clean and defined, and try not to smear anything on the sides of the shooters.

Gently pour half a tablespoon of the liqueur over the first layer in one shooter. Repeat with the remaining liqueur in the other shooter. The liqueur will float on top of the bottom layer.

Using the back of a small spoon, gently pour half of the coffee over the liqueur in one glass. Repeat with the remaining coffee in the other glass. This technique helps the layers to form a neat layer, rather than mixing together.

Using the back of the same spoon, gently pour half of the frothed milk over the coffee in one glass. Repeat with the remaining foam in the other glass.

You may not need to use all this liquid – just fill to the rim.

Step 5 – Garnish

Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of the foam in each shooter.

Gently place one peel of lemon on the rim of each shooter.

Step 6 – Serve

Serve immediately while still warm. But wait just a second… you still have one more step remaining before drinking!

First, admire the beautiful layers you meticulously and patiently created. Then, drop the lemon peel into the drink and stir everything together for a few seconds with a small spoon to equally distribute all of the ingredients.

Sip and enjoy!

Serve in Style

A little extra flair goes a long way to serve your cocktail in style!

For a pretty cinnamon garnish on top, seek some creative inspiration from our article on how to decorate cupcakes without frosting.

Partially cover the foam on top with your choice of stencil. Lightly dust the exposed foam with the ground cinnamon. Once you remove the stencil, you’ll be left with a pretty design on top.

Play with the lemon peel, as well – twist it and partially slice it to create a slit you can then use to prop it upright on the rim.