Got a bottle of Maraschino liqueur, or deciding whether it’s worth it to buy some? Despite the name, don’t confuse it with the liquid in a jar of maraschino cherries! This clear, cherry-flavored liqueur is a common ingredient in classic cocktails that originated in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Here A Couple Cooks, we’re cocktail experts with over 300 cocktail recipes under our belt: and Maraschino cocktails are some of our absolute favorites.
What is Maraschino liqueur?
Maraschino liqueur is a clear, cherry-flavored liqueur used in many classic cocktails. It’s made by distilling Marasca cherries, a variety that grows on the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Large scale production of Maraschino started back in 1759 in Zadar, Croatia, where it’s still manufactured today. It’s also made elsewhere in Europe and the US. Maraschino liqueur was the most popular cherry liqueur starting in the late 1800’s. It starred in many popular cocktails like the Martinez, the precursor to the Martini and Manhattan. It’s generally used as a secondary flavor to back up primary liquors like gin, rum or whiskey.
What does Maraschino taste like?
Maraschino liqueur tastes dry with a hint of sweet, with vanilla, sour cherry and almond notes on the finish. It brings a complexity to cocktails because of its unexpected flavor, adding a hint of brightness and roundness to the sip. How much alcohol is in Maraschino? It is 32% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it’s mid-level alcohol. Compare this to 40% ABV for liquors like whiskey, rum, vodka and gin.
Why we like it
Maraschino liqueur adds a unique layer of complexity to cocktails! It stars in several lesser known classic cocktails that we think deserve time in the spotlight, like the Martinez, Hemingway Daiquiri and Last Word. It’s absolutely worth a purchase for the budding home mixologist.
How much does it cost?
Compared to other liquors, Maraschino is mid-priced. It costs about $30 for a 750 ml bottle. There are several brands of maraschino liqueur. The most popular one is Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, which should be easy to find at your local liquor store. Other popular brands include Lazzaroni, Maraska, and Bols.
Most popular Maraschino liqueur cocktails
This liqueur is absolutely buying for the at-home home bartender! You can drink it straight as a digestif, but it really shines in cocktails. What drinks can you make with it?
More cocktails
Looking for more cocktail recipes? Here are some of our favorite collections for you to browse: Ingredients: Gin, sweet vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters Also try: Pineapple Rum Cocktail Ingredients: White rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Maraschino liqueur Ingredients: Gin, Maraschino liqueur, Chartreuse liqueur, lime juice Ingredients: White rum, pineapple juice, Maraschino liqueur, grenadine Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur, crème de violette Ingredients: Mezcal, Aperol, maraschino liqueur, and lime Ingredients: Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Amer Picon or other herbal, citrusy amaro Ingredients: Gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, maraschino liqueur, lemon
Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes. The Big 5: These drink lists all feature the top 5 most popular alcohols: Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Bourbon, Tequila or Rum (White Rum or Dark Rum). By Season: Try our Fall Cocktails, Winter Drinks, Thanksgiving Drinks, Holiday Drinks, or Summer Cocktails. Specialty: Make drinks with Mezcal, Fernet Branca, Aperol, Hennessy, Midori, Orgeat, and Maraschino Liqueur. By Ingredient: Try our cocktails with Strawberry, Peach, Wine, Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari, Vermouth, Coffee, or Orange Juice.
5 from 1 review
