Collins Amarena Cherries 13.5OZ

Collins Amarena Cherries 13.5OZ are Italian-produced preserved cocktail cherries packed in syrup, sold in a 13.5-ounce jar. Imported from Naples, Italy, these stemless amarena cherries bring a dark, rich sweetness and dense, satisfying texture that holds up in stirred and shaken drinks alike.

Quick Facts: Size: 13.5 oz  |  Origin: Naples, Italy  |  Type: Amarena Cherry in Syrup  |  Brand: Collins

Production & Heritage

Collins sources these amarena cherries from producers in Naples, Italy, drawing on a century-old Italian tradition of preserving wild cherries in sugar syrup. The cherries are packed with a syrup made from sugar, glucose-fructose syrup, and sour cherry juice, with anthocyanin providing the characteristic deep purple hue. Unlike maraschino-style cherries processed with artificial dyes and heavy sweeteners, amarena cherries rely on natural fruit flavoring and citric acid for balance, resulting in a more complex and fruit-forward garnish.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The jar opens with a concentrated dark cherry fragrance layered with hints of natural fruit syrup. There is a pleasant depth that leans more toward ripe, wild cherry than candy-like sweetness.

Taste: The initial bite delivers a bold bing cherry flavor — full-bodied and unmistakably fruit-driven. Mid-palate, the sweetness rounds out with subtle tartness from the sour cherry juice component. These sit on the sweeter end of the amarena spectrum, but the natural fruit character prevents them from becoming cloying.

Finish: Dense and juicy, each cherry delivers a satisfying pop with lingering dark fruit flavor. The accompanying syrup carries that same rich cherry profile and works as a cocktail ingredient on its own.

How to Use Collins Amarena Cherries

Drop one or two cherries into any stirred cocktail for an authentic Italian garnish with functional flavor. The syrup doubles as a sweetener in builds that call for cherry or fruit-forward depth.

• Manhattan: The dark cherry richness complements rye whiskey and sweet vermouth without overshadowing the drink's herbal backbone.
• Old Fashioned: A single amarena cherry adds fruit complexity that pairs naturally with bourbon and bitters, replacing the neon-red maraschino standard.
• Amaretto Sour: The Italian origin and concentrated cherry flavor mirror the almond-and-stone-fruit notes in amaretto liqueur.

Best For

• Stocking a serious home bar with professional-grade garnishes
• Upgrading whiskey cocktails from standard maraschino cherries
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast building their ingredient collection
• Topping desserts, ice cream, or charcuterie boards alongside spirits

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Collins Amarena Cherries taste like? They deliver a bold, dark cherry flavor that leans sweet with underlying tartness from sour cherry juice, and each cherry has a dense, juicy texture that pops in the mouth.

How do Collins Amarena Cherries compare to Fabbri Amarena Cherries? Fabbri is widely regarded as the gold standard for amarena cherries in syrup and tends to strike a more balanced sweet-tart ratio. Collins amarena cherries are slightly smaller and stemless, positioned at a more accessible price point while still delivering authentic Italian quality.

Are Collins Amarena Cherries good for cocktails? They are purpose-built for cocktails — the strong cherry flavor stands up to stiff, spirit-forward drinks like Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, and the syrup can be used as an additional ingredient.

Where are Collins Amarena Cherries made? Collins Amarena Cherries are imported from Naples, Italy, where amarena cherry preservation follows a tradition dating back over a century.

What foods pair well with Collins Amarena Cherries? They pair well with vanilla gelato or ice cream as a topping, with aged cheeses on a charcuterie board, folded into chocolate brownies or cake batter for added fruit depth, spooned over panna cotta, or served alongside cured meats where their sweetness cuts through salt and fat.

What sizes do Collins Amarena Cherries come in? The standard retail size is the 13.5-ounce jar, which contains approximately 26 to 28 individual stemless cherries packed in cherry syrup.

Are Collins Amarena Cherries worth the price? Collins positions these as a mid-range option in the imported amarena category — more affordable than ultra-premium brands like Fabbri while delivering a significant step up from standard maraschino cherries in both flavor and texture.

Why Collins Amarena Cherries?

These Italian-imported cherries fill a specific gap in the garnish market: authentic amarena quality without the premium price of heritage brands. The dense fruit holds its structure in drinks rather than dissolving into mush, and the accompanying syrup pulls double duty as a sweetener. For bartenders and home enthusiasts replacing artificially colored, artificially flavored maraschino cherries, the Collins jar represents a practical, flavorful upgrade rooted in genuine Italian preservation methods.