Everything You Didn’t Know About Cocktail Cherries

Cocktail cherries are just those bright red, overly sweet candy-like fluorescent balls with stems that we toss from our drinks, right? Fortunately, no. There are better options out there. Today we’ll give a brief introduction to two types of premium cocktail cherries, and compare and contrast them.

For this article, I consulted my friend ChatGPT, who was really quite knowledgeable about the subject.

What is the difference between Maraschino, Amarena and Luxardo Cherries?

Me: So, apparently there are different kinds of cocktail cherries. Can you write a paragraph or two explaining the differences between maraschino and amarena cherries, and also discuss where Luxardo cherries fit in.

ChatGPT: Absolutely—there’s more to cocktail cherries than the neon-red maraschinos many grew up with.

Maraschino cherries, as most Americans know them, are bright red, sweet, and often artificially flavored and dyed. These cherries are typically made from lighter varieties like Royal Ann or Rainier and preserved in a simple sugar solution after being bleached and dyed. While they’re popular for topping sundaes and adding a nostalgic flair to drinks, their flavor is often one-dimensional—more sugar than cherry.

In contrast, Amarena cherries originate from Italy and are made from small, dark wild cherries called Amarena cherries, which are preserved in a rich, syrupy reduction of their own juice and sugar. They have a deep, complex flavor—tart and slightly bitter with a pronounced natural cherry taste. Their texture is firmer than standard maraschinos, and they’re often considered a more sophisticated choice for classic cocktails like the Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

Luxardo cherries bridge the gap. Produced by the Luxardo family in Italy, these are technically marasca cherries—a variety similar to amarena—preserved in a dark, dense syrup made from marasca cherry juice and sugar. They’re intensely flavorful, with a slightly bitter, nutty undertone from the cherry pits and a texture that’s pleasantly chewy. Though often referred to as “maraschino cherries” due to the marasca name and historical association with maraschino liqueur, Luxardo cherries are far removed from their mass-produced American counterparts. They’re widely regarded as the gold standard for premium cocktail cherries.

That’s very interesting, but why are Luxardo Cherries labelled as Maraschino Cherries?

Me: Why do Luxardo cherries say “maraschino cherries” on the label of their jar?

ChatGPT: Luxardo labels their famous cocktail garnish as “maraschino cherries” because the term originally refers to cherries preserved in maraschino liqueur made from marasca cherries — the exact method Luxardo pioneered in 1905.

🍒 Why “Maraschino” on the Label?

• Historical authenticity: In the 19th century, true maraschino cherries meant marasca cherries soaked in maraschino liqueur from the Dalmatian coast. Luxardo has produced these authentic cherries since 1905 .
• European tradition vs. American usage: In the U.S., “maraschino cherry” became a catch‑all for sweet, dyed cherries preserved in sugary syrups after Prohibition and FDA rule changes in 1940. Luxardo uses the original European method, so their cherries legitimately carry the “maraschino” label—not just imitation.
• Curated marketing: Luxardo embraced the traditional nomenclature to distinguish their product from mass‑market American versions, positioning theirs as the “OG Maraschino cherry”  .

Luxardo Cherry Major Points

• Maraschino cherry: Originally meant a marasca cherry preserved in maraschino liqueur.
• Luxardo cherries: Made from marasca cherries, soaked in their own juice syrup — the authentic recipe.
• American maraschinos: Mass‑produced with blanched sweet cherries, dye, flavoring, and sugar syrup — very different from Luxardo’s.

So when Luxardo calls them “Maraschino cherries”, they’re paying homage to the original, artisanal method—unlike their neon‑red supermarket counterparts.

Google’s Gemini also suggested that both Brandied Cherries and cocktail specific Bing Cherries can be used in cocktails as a step up from the bright red American maraschino cherry.

So there you have it! I think ChatGPT summed things up nicely, hopefully without too much plagiarism. Now, go on out there and impress your friends with your newfound cocktail cherry knowledge! By the way, did you know that we have a comprehensive Home Bourbon Bartending Guide on BourbonObsessed.com? Well, we do! It was written by my friend Aften Locken and contains everything you need to know. Check it out for more cocktail knowledge from a true expert! Cheers!🥃🍒

Sources

• Luxardo Maraschino Cherries – Official Product Page
• Luxardo History – Official Site
• Wikipedia – Maraschino cherry
• Club Oenologique – How Luxardo’s Maraschino Cherries Became a Cult Cocktail Garnish
• The Cocktail Camp – Get Into Pit: The History Of The Maraschino Cherry
• Imbibe Magazine – Luxardo’s Legacy: 200 Years of Making Iconic Maraschino Liqueur
• Epicurious – What Are Luxardo Maraschino Cherries and Why Are They So Expensive?
• Saveur – Turns Out, Maraschino Cherries Are the Real-Deal Forbidden Fruit
• Wikipedia – Maraschino (liqueur)
• FDA – CPG Sec 550.550 Maraschino Cherries
• Atlas Obscura – How a Vibrant, Factory‑Made Sweet Usurped the Real Maraschino Cherry
• Wikipedia – Girolamo Luxardo
• Wikipedia – Marasca cherry
• Food & Wine – America Almost Ruined Cocktail Cherries, But Italy Is Bringing Them Back
• Bon Appétit – Your Manhattans and Dirty Shirleys Need These Fancy Cocktail Cherries
• The Spruce Eats – The 8 Best Cocktail Cherries to Dress Up Drinks
• PUNCH – The Battle Over the Maraschino Cherry
• VinePair – A Brief, Boozy History of the Maraschino Cherry
• New York Times – A New Life for the Maraschino Cherry

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