Collins Stemmed Cocktail Cherries 26OZ

Collins Stemmed Cocktail Cherries 26OZ are large, bright-red maraschino-style cocktail cherries sold in a 26-ounce jar, hand-packed with stems intact. Produced by Collins — a company rooted in Chicago's bar culture since 1934 — these cherries have been regarded as an industry standard garnish for decades.

Quick Facts: Size: 26 oz jar  |  Cherry Variety: Royal Anne  |  Origin: USA  |  Brand: Collins (est. 1934, Chicago)

Production & Heritage

Collins Brothers opened on North Clark Street in Chicago in 1934, building a reputation as a supplier of professional-grade bar accessories and garnishes. These stemmed cherries are made from Royal Anne cherries — a pale, sweet variety widely used in maraschino processing — and are preserved in a syrup of corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and citric acid, with natural and artificial maraschino flavoring. The cherries are colored with FD&C Red #40 and preserved with sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sulfur dioxide, then hand-packed with their stems for easy garnishing.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A sweet, candy-like cherry scent greets the nose first, followed by a subtle almond-like undertone characteristic of maraschino flavoring.

Taste: The initial bite is firmly sweet, with a sour cherry note that develops mid-palate. The overall flavor profile leans toward a bright, fruit-punch sweetness rather than the dark, complex character of Italian-style amarena cherries. Drinkhacker described the palate impact as "closer to Hawaiian Punch than an actual cherry."

Finish: Sugary sweetness lingers, with a mild almond-like echo from the maraschino flavoring. The texture is firm and snappy, holding its shape well in drinks without turning mushy.

How to Use Collins Stemmed Cherries

The attached stem makes these cherries a practical, classic-looking garnish that's easy to place on a cocktail pick or rest on a glass rim. Their bright color and pronounced sweetness suit traditional American-style cocktails particularly well.

• Manhattan: The cherry's sweetness complements the vermouth and rye backbone, and the stem adds a polished presentation to this iconic serve.
• Old Fashioned: A single stemmed cherry muddled or dropped in adds color and a familiar fruity sweetness against the whiskey and bitters base.
• Shirley Temple: These are the quintessential Shirley Temple cherry — their candy-bright flavor and red hue define the drink's nostalgic character.

Best For

• Stocking a home bar with a reliable, large-format garnish supply
• Hosting parties where classic cocktails and Shirley Temples are on the menu
• Bartenders seeking a familiar, budget-friendly stemmed cherry option in volume
• Adding a sweet garnish to ice cream sundaes, baked goods, or dessert plates

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Collins Stemmed Cherries taste like? They deliver a sweet, sour-cherry flavor with a hint of almond from the maraschino flavoring, leaning toward a bright, candy-like sweetness rather than a natural fruit flavor.

How do Collins Stemmed Cherries compare to Filthy Red Cherries? Filthy Red Maraschino Cherries use a nearly identical ingredient list but are generally considered slightly less sweet than the Collins version, with a marginally more refined flavor according to comparative reviews.

Are Collins Stemmed Cherries good for cocktails? Yes — their firm texture holds up well in drinks, the stem provides an easy, classic garnish, and their bright sweetness works in traditional American cocktails like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Whiskey Sour.

Where are Collins Stemmed Cherries made? Collins Stemmed Cocktail Cherries are a product of the USA, produced under the Collins brand, which was founded in 1934 on North Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois.

What foods pair well with Collins Stemmed Cherries? Ice cream sundaes benefit from the cherry's sweetness and color; chocolate cake or brownies contrast well with the bright fruit note; cheese boards can use them as a sweet accent alongside mild cheeses; and they work as a topping for pancakes or waffles when a sweet garnish is desired.

What sizes do Collins Stemmed Cherries come in? The 26-ounce jar is the large-format option most widely available, though Collins also produces smaller jars for lighter home use.

Are Collins Stemmed Cherries worth the price? Collins positions these as a value-tier maraschino cherry — significantly less expensive than premium Italian amarena or Luxardo-style options, making them a practical choice for high-volume use or casual entertaining where budget matters more than artisanal character.

Why Collins Stemmed Cherries?

Collins has supplied bars and home entertainers since 1934, and the stemmed cocktail cherry remains one of the brand's signature products. The 26-ounce jar provides a generous quantity for anyone who garnishes drinks regularly, and the firm Royal Anne cherry base holds up better in cocktails than many competing grocery-store options. While these are not in the same class as Italian amarena or Luxardo maraschino cherries, they occupy a clear role as the accessible, high-volume workhorse cherry — the kind that has defined the look and taste of American bar garnishing for generations.