Luxardo Maraschino Originale Liqueur

Luxardo Maraschino Originale is the original maraschino liqueur — not an approximation, not a substitute. Made by the Luxardo family since 1821, first in Zara (now Zadar, Croatia) and since World War II at their distillery in Torreglia, Veneto, it remains the undisputed benchmark for the entire category and an indispensable ingredient in some of the world's most revered cocktails. The production process is unlike anything else in the liqueur world. The Luxardo family cultivates over 30,000 proprietary Sour Marasca cherry trees in the Euganean Hills of Veneto. At harvest, entire cherries — fruit, pits, stems, and leaves — are placed into larchwood vats with neutral alcohol for up to three years of infusion. The full mash is then distilled in traditional copper pot stills, retaining only the heart of the distillate. That heart is then aged in large Finnish ashwood vats for 12 to 18 months before sugar and water are added to bring the ABV down to 32%, resulting in a crystal-clear liqueur with no artificial color or flavoring. The distinctive almond and marzipan character comes directly from the crushed cherry pits, which contain compounds that transform through distillation into a complex, dry nuttiness that artificial cherry liqueurs simply cannot replicate. Rated 91–92 points by Wine Enthusiast and a Gold Medal winner at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the iconic hand-plaited straw bottle is still wrapped by hand at the distillery — a tradition carried over from the original Zara-era bottles where straw was used to protect glass during transport. Tasting Notes Nose: Cherry blossom, roasted almond & marzipan with subtle spice & roasted nuttiness Palate: Tart Marasca cherry, pronounced almond, dark chocolate, vanilla & orange marmalade Finish: Medium & clean with lingering bittersweet cherry, marzipan & a dry, never-cloying close Product Details The Original Maraschino Liqueur, Produced Since 1821 Proprietary Luxardo Sour Marasca Cherries, Estate-Grown in the Euganean Hills, Veneto Whole Cherry Infusion: Fruit, Pits, Stems & Leaves in Larchwood Vats for 3 Years Copper Pot Distilled, Aged 12-18 Months in Finnish Ashwood Vats Crystal Clear, No Artificial Color or Flavor 91-92 Points, Wine Enthusiast | Gold Medal, 2011 SF World Spirits Competition Signature Hand-Plaited Straw Bottle 32% ABV (64 Proof) 750ml Frequently Asked Questions What cocktails use Luxardo Maraschino? It's essential in the Aviation, Last Word, Martinez, Hemingway Daiquiri, and dozens of other classic and tiki-era recipes. It also works beautifully drizzled over ice cream, fruit, or desserts. Why does Luxardo Maraschino taste like almonds? The whole-cherry distillation includes the pits, which contain compounds that transform during distillation into a distinctive dry, marzipan-like nuttiness. This is what separates it from simple cherry-flavored liqueurs. Is Luxardo Maraschino sweet? It's lightly sweet but primarily dry and complex, far removed from candy-sweet cherry liqueurs. The dominant notes are tart cherry, roasted almond, and dark chocolate rather than simple fruit sweetness. Why is the bottle wrapped in straw? The hand-plaited straw wrapping dates back to the original Zara-era production in the 1800s, when straw was used to protect glass bottles during transportation. Today it's both a trademark and a tribute to Luxardo's heritage.