Fabbri Amarena Cherries 35G

Fabbri Amarena Cherries 35G are Italian wild cherries preserved in syrup, sold in a 35-gram portion ideal for cocktail garnishing and dessert use. Produced in Bologna using a family recipe dating to 1915, these amarena cherries are recognized as one of the benchmark cocktail cherry garnishes alongside Luxardo.

Quick Facts: Size: 35g  |  Origin: Bologna, Italy  |  Type: Wild Amarena Cherries in Syrup  |  Producer: Fabbri 1905

Production & Heritage

The Fabbri family has been producing their "Original Wild Cherry in Syrup" in Bologna, Italy since 1915, using a secret recipe passed down through multiple generations. The amarena cherries are sourced from the Bologna and Modena regions of Emilia-Romagna, where the variety thrives in the local climate and soil. The cherries are preserved in a glucose-based syrup with amarena wild cherry juice, citric acid, and natural flavors — no artificial colors are used, with fruit and vegetable juices providing the deep burgundy hue instead.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich dark cherry with a faint syrupy sweetness and subtle floral undertones. The scent is concentrated and jammy, suggesting depth beyond a standard maraschino cherry.

Taste: The initial impression is a pronounced natural cherry flavor — tart and slightly bitter — that gives way to a smooth, creamy sweetness from the syrup. Reviewers describe the profile as a touch sweeter than comparable Italian brands like Toschi, with a hint-of-maraschino character and a strawberry-like quality on the back palate.

Finish: The cherry holds a lingering sweet-tart balance that doesn't cloy. A subtle bitterness at the very end keeps the flavor grounded and complex.

How to Use Fabbri Amarena Cherries

These cherries work best dropped directly into cocktails as a garnish, or spooned over desserts and ice cream as a topping. The syrup itself doubles as a cocktail ingredient.

• Manhattan: The tart-sweet profile complements rye whiskey and sweet vermouth without overwhelming the drink's balance.
• Old Fashioned: A single Fabbri cherry adds natural fruit depth that pairs with bourbon's caramel and oak notes far better than a standard neon-red maraschino.
• Amaretto Sour: The Italian origin and almond-adjacent bitterness of the cherry echo the amaretto's stone-fruit character, tying the garnish to the base spirit.

Best For

• Stocking a home bar with professional-grade cocktail garnishes
• Sampling a premium amarena cherry before committing to a full-size jar
• Topping gelato, panna cotta, or cheesecake with an authentic Italian cherry
• Gifting alongside a bottle of bourbon or rye for a complete cocktail package

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Fabbri Amarena Cherries taste like? They deliver a deep, complex cherry flavor that balances tartness and natural sweetness, with a slightly bitter edge and a strawberry-like finish that sets them apart from artificially flavored maraschino cherries.

How do Fabbri Amarena Cherries compare to Luxardo cherries? Both are premium Italian cocktail cherries at a similar price point; Fabbri tends to be slightly sweeter with a smoother syrup, while Luxardo cherries are often described as firmer with a more intense, darker fruit character. Drinkhacker rated Fabbri a B grade and noted Luxardo as the slight edge winner among high-end cocktail cherries.

Are Fabbri Amarena Cherries good for cocktails? They are widely regarded as one of the top cocktail garnish cherries available, used in bars around the world for Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and other classic drinks that call for a cherry garnish.

Where are Fabbri Amarena Cherries made? Fabbri Amarena Cherries are produced in Bologna, Italy by the Fabbri family, using wild amarena cherries grown in the Bologna and Modena regions of Emilia-Romagna.

What foods pair well with Fabbri Amarena Cherries? Vanilla gelato or ice cream benefits from the tart-sweet contrast; ricotta cheesecake gains depth from the cherry syrup; aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano play off the fruit's bitterness; chocolate torte pairs naturally with dark cherry; and pound cake or panna cotta provides a neutral canvas for the cherry's full flavor to shine.

What sizes do Fabbri Amarena Cherries come in? This particular offering is a 35-gram portion, but Fabbri also produces larger formats including jars of various sizes for home and commercial use.

Are Fabbri Amarena Cherries worth the price? Fabbri positions in the premium cocktail garnish tier alongside Luxardo, and the quality gap between these and standard supermarket maraschino cherries is dramatic — the natural flavor, firmer texture, and real cherry syrup justify the higher cost for anyone serious about drink presentation and taste.

Why Fabbri Amarena Cherries?

The Fabbri family has been making this exact product in Bologna for over a century, and that continuity shows in the consistency and depth of flavor. Unlike mass-produced maraschino cherries bleached and re-dyed with artificial color, Fabbri uses natural fruit and vegetable juices for coloring and real amarena cherry juice in the syrup. The 35-gram format makes this an accessible entry point for anyone upgrading their home bar garnish game without committing to a full jar. Among premium Italian cocktail cherries, Fabbri holds its ground as a top-tier option with a flavor profile that bartenders and home enthusiasts consistently trust.