What is maraschino liqueur?

When it comes to liqueurs, there are a few that tend to hog the limelight. Aperol turns up in Spritzes everywhere, regardless of the season. Campari also works overtime, with Negronis never not in style. Cointreau shines in the classic Marg, and everyone knows Baileys, whether they drink it or not (and they really should). But there are other liqueurs that do plenty of heavy lifting behind the scenes that we think deserve more love – and that includes maraschino liqueur.

This cherry-flavoured liqueur is a bit of a workhorse that features in all sorts of excellent cocktails. Don’t know much about it? Read on to learn all about maraschino liqueur, how it’s made and, most importantly, how to enjoy it.

If maraschino liqueur makes you think of those super-sweet glazed cherries that come in a jar, think again. Maraschino liqueur is made from Marasca cherries, which are more tart than those sticky preserved wonders (although those sundae-toppers were originally made with Marasca cherries, too). The Marasca is a type of morello cherry that’s native to Croatia, so it’s no surprise that this liqueur was first made there, way back in the 1700s – by monks, as it happens.

Despite showcasing this red fruit’s flavours, maraschino liqueur is commonly made as a clear liquid. As for what to expect from maraschino liqueur, it’s dry and fruity, with a touch of bitterness and a nutty element that adds complexity.

A great place to start with maraschino liqueur is to drizzle it over ice cream for a rather grown-up but simple dessert. Its tart finish and fruity, nutty flavours work beautifully with good-quality vanilla ice cream, but that’s just us – you probably want to know how to drink it.

If you’d like to take your cues from the Croatians, chill a bottle (it will become thick and syrupy in the freezer) and serve it neat for a pretty lovely pre- or post-meal sipper. But if you’re keen to see how it shines in cocktails, there are loads of ways to use it. The best thing is that some of the classic maraschino liqueur cocktails only use a few ingredients, including several that you may already have at home.

The Aviation is a three-ingredient cocktail that combines maraschino liqueur with gin (a natural companion, as is bourbon) and lemon juice, with that tart cherry finish bringing this mix home. The Last Word hails from Prohibition era, combining the cherry liqueur with Green Chartreuse, lime juice and gin in a bold, herbal and tart cocktail. The smooth and sweet Martinez is another simple combo of maraschino liqueur with sweet vermouth and gin, while the Brooklyn – a twist on the Manhattan – blends rye whiskey, dry vermouth and amaro with maraschino liqueur.

When you’re ready to get a little more experimental, the Division Bell has mezcal at its core, the Fireball Smash gives maraschino a very modern twist, and the Club Cocktail has a few intriguing ingredients (pisco and Cognac included). The list goes on – be sure to put “maraschino liqueur” as the search term in our cocktail recipe collection for more ideas.