Maraschino Cherry
Also known as: cocktail cherry
In short
The maraschino cherry is the crown of many classics: originally preserved in maraschino liqueur, at home in Zadar, today often just a dyed sugar cherry. We explain the history and how to spot the good one.
In depth
What is a maraschino cherry?
The maraschino cherry is a candied cherry, originally preserved in maraschino liqueur. Its home is Zadar, the former Zara in Dalmatia, where Girolamo Luxardo founded his distillery in 1821. After the Second World War the family moved production to Italy, and the name Luxardo still stands for the original version.
The copied cherry
Many supermarket cherries no longer contain any maraschino today: they are bleached, dyed and preserved in sugar syrup. You recognise the good cherry by its dark tone, its firm texture and its true maraschino aroma. The difference is not looks, it is taste.
Classics with a cherry
Manhattan, Old Fashioned and Rob Roy. The Manhattan lives on a dash of Angostura, which you know from our Angostura entry, and the cherry adds the crown at the end.
Remember this one
"The garnish makes the picture, the rim makes the edge, the cherry makes the crown."
At our lounge
Ask us which cherry goes into your drink: you can taste the original, and it is always worth the final touch.