Maraschino (Luxardo/Maraska, distinct category but related)
ReferenceCroatia, Italy, Zadar
Famous For
ABV30-35%
Sub-styles
Luxardo MaraschinoMaraska Maraschino
Tasting Notes
Cherry stone, bitter almond, benzaldehyde, dried cherry, nutty, clean, mineral, slight sweetness. Clear, not colored. Dry rather than sweet — fundamentally different from cherry brandy or crème de cerise. The pit character is the signature — almond without almonds.
Brand Guide
Primary: Luxardo Maraschino ($28-32) — the benchmark, gold standard. Alternative: Maraska ($22-28, Croatian, the original terroir). Lazzaroni ($20-25). No budget option — cheap maraschino doesn't exist in meaningful quality. Luxardo is to maraschino what Champagne is to sparkling wine.
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The Story
Dalmatian marasca cherry distillate — pits, stems, fruit — aged in ash, barely sweetened. The almond-cherry backbone of classic cocktails.