Cherry (brandy) liqueur
CoreDenmark (Cherry Heering / since 1818), Veneto/Dalmatia (Marasca cherry tradition / Luxardo), Kent / England (historical cherry orchards), Black Forest / Germany (Kirsch connection)
Famous For
1941 (Suffering Bastard)
Gin and brandy walk into a war zone. Ginger beer brings them home.
A. J.
Two ingredients. Applejack meets grapefruit and nothing else is needed.
After Dinner Cocktail
In an era when cocktails had functional names, this one told you exactly when to drink it — and a hundred years later, the advice still holds.
Tasting Notes
Dark cherry, Morello cherry tartness, almond/marzipan (pit character), dried fruit, cinnamon warmth, vanilla from cask aging, caramelized sugar, mild tannic grip. Cherry Heering specifically: deep, almost port-like, with dried cherry and baking spice. Luxardo Sangue Morlacco: brighter, more fresh-cherry, with a bitter-almond finish. Cheap versions: cherry cough syrup, artificial sweetness, no complexity.
Brand Guide
Bols Cherry Brandy ($12-16, decent for volume)
Cherry Heering ($24-30, the benchmark — five-year maceration, the one recipes call for by name)
Luxardo Sangue Morlacco ($28-35, brighter cherry, higher proof, excellent)
Maraska Cherry Brandy ($25-32, Croatian, Marasca cherries). Cherry Heering is effectively the only brand you need — it's what every classic recipe was developed with