Collins Amaretto Cherries 13.4OZ

Collins Amaretto Cherries 13.4OZ are premium cocktail cherries made from wild black cherries and infused with natural amaretto flavor, sold in a 13.4-ounce jar. Recognized by the SIP Awards, these garnishes stand apart from standard maraschinos by using natural color derived from carrot and hibiscus extracts rather than artificial dyes.

Quick Facts: Size: 13.4 oz (380g)  |  Type: Amaretto-Infused Cocktail Cherries  |  Origin: USA  |  Brand: Collins, est. 1934, Chicago

Production & Heritage

Collins traces its roots to Chicago in 1934 — the year after Prohibition ended — when the company launched with a simple bottle of grenadine and a beer key. Nearly nine decades later, the brand works directly with cherry growers in Oregon, sourcing wild black cherries and using real juice and real sugar in its products. The Amaretto Cherries are colored naturally with carrot and hibiscus extracts and flavored with natural amaretto, setting them apart from mass-market maraschinos packed with artificial ingredients. The ingredient list is straightforward: cherries, glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, Amarena juice, citric acid, and natural amaretto flavoring.

Flavor Profile

Aroma: Warm, almond-forward nuttiness greets the nose first, followed by a dark-fruit sweetness reminiscent of Amarena cherry syrup. There is no harsh chemical or overly saccharine scent.

Taste: The initial bite delivers a deep, nutty sweetness balanced by the natural tartness of the wild black cherry. Mid-palate, the amaretto infusion becomes more prominent, adding a marzipan-like richness. The fruit itself maintains a firm, satisfying texture — not mushy or waterlogged.

Finish: A clean, slightly tart fade lingers after each cherry, with residual almond sweetness that does not overwhelm. The natural acidity from the citric acid and Amarena juice keeps the overall impression balanced rather than cloying.

How to Use Collins Amaretto Cherries

These cherries shine as a garnish dropped into stirred and shaken cocktails alike, and the syrup in the jar works as a cocktail sweetener on its own.

• Manhattan: The nutty amaretto character echoes the sweet vermouth and complements rye or bourbon without competing.
• Amaretto Sour: A natural pairing — the cherry reinforces the amaretto liqueur already in the glass and adds visual appeal.
• Old Fashioned: The firm texture and balanced sweetness hold up against the whiskey and bitters without dissolving into mush.
• Tiki & Rum Drinks: Use as a garnish in a Mai Tai or Jungle Bird where dark fruit notes and subtle almond nuance add complexity.

Best For

• Stocking a serious home bar with professional-grade garnishes
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast building their ingredients collection
• Upgrading Manhattans and Old Fashioneds from neon-red grocery store cherries
• Hosting cocktail parties where presentation and ingredient quality matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Collins Amaretto Cherries taste like? They deliver a deep, nutty sweetness from the amaretto infusion layered over the natural tartness of wild black cherries — noticeably more complex and less artificially sweet than standard maraschino cherries.

How do Collins Amaretto Cherries compare to Luxardo or Fabbri Amarena Cherries? Luxardo and Fabbri are Italian-made Amarena cherries with a long heritage and a distinctly syrupy, concentrated fruit character. Collins offers a comparable quality level with a specifically amaretto-forward flavor profile and uses Oregon-grown cherries with natural colorings, positioning it as a strong domestic alternative.

Are Collins Amaretto Cherries good for cocktails? Yes — they are specifically designed as a cocktail garnish, developed in collaboration with working bartenders, and hold up well in stirred drinks like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned.

Where are Collins Amaretto Cherries made? Collins is an American company founded in Chicago in 1934 that sources its cherries from growers in Oregon, emphasizing direct relationships with farmers and simple, real ingredients.

What foods pair well with Collins Amaretto Cherries? They complement vanilla ice cream or gelato as a topping, add depth to a cheese board alongside aged Gouda or Manchego, work well on top of dark chocolate desserts, pair with almond cake or biscotti, and can garnish a panna cotta for a refined finish.

What size do Collins Amaretto Cherries come in? The standard jar is 13.4 ounces (380 grams), a generous size suitable for regular home bar use.

Are Collins Amaretto Cherries worth the price? Collins positions these as a premium cocktail garnish that sits competitively alongside imported Amarena cherries from Fabbri and Luxardo, offering a high-quality alternative with transparent, natural ingredients at a comparable value tier.

Why Collins Amaretto Cherries?

What separates these from the crowded cocktail cherry market is the combination of Oregon-sourced wild black cherries, natural colorings from carrot and hibiscus, and a distinct amaretto infusion you will not find in standard Amarena imports. Collins has been in the garnish and mixer business since 1934, and the brand develops its products alongside professional bartenders — not in a marketing department. The SIP Awards recognition reinforces that the quality holds up to blind consumer evaluation. For anyone serious about what goes into their glass, these cherries represent a meaningful upgrade over both grocery-store maraschinos and artificially colored alternatives.