Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries 311G

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries 311G are premium cocktail cherries infused with Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, sold in an 11-ounce (311g) jar. Distinguished from standard maraschino cherries by their all-natural ingredients and real bourbon infusion, these garnishes have earned strong consumer praise for delivering genuine oak, spice, and cherry character.

Quick Facts: Size: 311g (11 oz)  |  Origin: Oregon cherries / Kentucky bourbon  |  Style: Bourbon-infused cocktail cherries  |  Brand: Woodford Reserve

Production & Heritage

The cherries themselves are handpicked in Oregon and processed using all-natural ingredients — no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They are then steeped in Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is distilled at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, using a distinctive combination of copper pot stills and column stills. The bourbon carries a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley at 45.2% ABV (90.4 proof), lending the cherries a depth of oak, vanilla, and baking spice that mass-produced cocktail cherries simply cannot replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A pronounced sweet cherry fragrance leads, followed by warm bourbon notes with hints of oak and subtle brandy-like richness. The scent is inviting without being cloying.

Taste: The initial bite delivers a crisp, tart cherry flavor that transitions into deeper tones of oak, vanilla, and warm baking spice from the bourbon infusion. A pleasant bitterness emerges at mid-palate, balancing the natural fruit sweetness and preventing one-dimensional sugariness.

Finish: The bourbon presence lingers with gentle warmth and woody undertones after the cherry flavor fades. A clean tartness rounds out the experience, leaving a balanced impression of fruit and whiskey.

How to Use Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries

These cherries shine as a finishing garnish dropped directly into cocktails, where the residual bourbon syrup adds a layer of flavor beyond mere decoration. They also work beautifully eaten straight from the jar as a bourbon-forward sweet bite.

• Old Fashioned: The classic pairing — the cherry's oak and spice notes mirror the cocktail's core flavors, creating a cohesive garnish rather than an afterthought.
• Manhattan: The tartness and bourbon warmth complement sweet vermouth and rye, adding textural contrast to the drink.
• Whiskey Sour: The natural cherry sweetness and slight bitterness reinforce the cocktail's sweet-tart balance without introducing artificial flavors.

Beyond cocktails, these cherries make an excellent topping for bourbon-spiked desserts, ice cream sundaes, or charcuterie boards where a spirit-forward garnish adds sophistication.

Best For

• Stocking a serious home cocktail bar with premium garnishes
• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast or home bartender
• Elevating an Old Fashioned or Manhattan at a dinner party
• Adding a finishing touch to bourbon-themed desserts or charcuterie spreads

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries taste like? They deliver a crisp, tart cherry flavor layered with oaky sweetness, warm spice, and a subtle bitterness from the Woodford Reserve bourbon infusion. The overall profile is rich and balanced — noticeably more complex than standard maraschino cherries.

How do Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries compare to Luxardo Maraschino Cherries? Luxardo cherries are preserved in marasca cherry syrup and carry a dense, candied sweetness with almond-like undertones, while Woodford Reserve cherries are infused with actual bourbon, giving them distinct oak, vanilla, and spice character. The Woodford version tends to be less intensely sweet and more whiskey-forward, making it a natural match for bourbon-based cocktails specifically.

Are Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries good for cocktails? They are purpose-built for cocktails, particularly bourbon and whiskey drinks like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan. The real bourbon infusion adds flavor depth that complements rather than competes with the spirit in the glass.

Where are Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries made? The cherries are handpicked in Oregon and infused with Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is produced at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries? Dark chocolate truffles benefit from the cherry's tartness and bourbon warmth. Vanilla ice cream or cheesecake gains complexity from the oak-spice syrup. Aged cheddar or Gouda on a charcuterie board pairs well with the sweet-bitter profile. Smoked meats like duck or pork belly find a bright counterpoint in the fruit's acidity.

What size do Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries come in? The standard retail jar is 311 grams (11 ounces), which typically provides enough cherries for dozens of cocktails depending on how generously you garnish.

Are Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries worth the price? They position as a premium cocktail garnish, priced above standard supermarket maraschino cherries but competitive with other artisan options like Luxardo. For anyone who regularly makes whiskey cocktails at home, the bourbon-infused flavor profile justifies the step up from mass-produced alternatives.

Why Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries?

What separates these from the crowded field of cocktail cherries is the use of actual Woodford Reserve Bourbon — a whiskey made with copper pot and column stills from a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. That specific bourbon character carries through into every cherry, delivering oak, vanilla, and spice notes that artificial cherry products cannot match. The Oregon-sourced fruit and all-natural ingredient list further distinguish them in a category still dominated by artificially colored and flavored alternatives. For bourbon drinkers who take their Old Fashioned seriously, these cherries are a logical extension of the same attention to craft.