Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 375ML

Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 375ML is a crystal-clear Italian cherry liqueur distilled from Marasca cherries, bottled at 32% ABV (64 proof) in a 375ml format. Rated 91–92 points by Wine Enthusiast, this centuries-old expression remains the benchmark for the maraschino category and an indispensable ingredient in some of the world's most revered cocktails.

Quick Facts: ABV: 32%  |  Origin: Torreglia, Veneto, Italy  |  Cherry Liqueur  |  Distillery: Luxardo

Production & Heritage

The Luxardo family has been producing maraschino liqueur since 1821, originally in Zara (now Zadar, Croatia) before relocating to Torreglia in the Veneto region after World War II. Production begins with proprietary Luxardo Sour Marasca cherries—cultivated exclusively by the family—which are infused in larchwood vats for three full years. The entire cherry mash, including pits, stems, and leaves, is then transferred to traditional copper pot stills for distillation. This whole-fruit approach creates the liqueur's signature complexity, delivering far more than a simple cherry-candy sweetness. After distillation, the spirit rests in Finnish ash wood vats for 12 to 18 months; ash wood is specifically chosen because it imparts no color, allowing the liqueur to remain perfectly clear while its flavors mellow and integrate. Sugar and water are added only at the final stage to bring the ABV down to 32%.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Delicate cherry blossom opens into roasted almond and marzipan, followed by subtle spice and a wisp of alcohol spirit. There is an underlying nuttiness that hints at the distilled cherry pits within.

Taste: The entry is smooth yet surprisingly dry, with tart Marasca cherry meeting a pronounced almond character from the crushed pits. Mid-palate, herbal and stone-fruit notes emerge alongside dark chocolate and vanilla. The overall impression is sophisticated and balanced—sharp enough to stand up in cocktails but refined enough to reward careful sipping.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering orange marmalade, bittersweet cherry, and a faint echo of marzipan. The texture remains clean and dry, never cloying.

How to Drink Luxardo Maraschino

Luxardo Maraschino is most commonly deployed as a cocktail modifier, where even a small measure transforms a drink's depth and complexity. It can also be sipped chilled as a digestif to appreciate its layered cherry-and-almond character. Three classic cocktails where it excels: the Aviation, where its dry cherry-almond backbone tempers the floral crème de violette and brightens gin; the Hemingway Daiquiri, where it adds bittersweet complexity to white rum and grapefruit juice; and the Last Word, where it balances green Chartreuse and lime with elegant sweetness and fruit.

Best For

• Stocking a serious home cocktail bar with essential modifiers
• Gifting a classic-cocktail enthusiast who appreciates heritage spirits
• Trying a half-bottle before committing to the full 750ml format
• Adding depth to desserts, pastries, and cherry-based confections

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Luxardo Maraschino taste like? Luxardo Maraschino delivers a dry, complex profile of tart Marasca cherry, roasted almond, marzipan, and dark chocolate, with herbal undertones and a clean, bittersweet finish—far removed from candy-sweet cherry liqueurs.

How does Luxardo Maraschino compare to Maraska Maraschino? Luxardo leans more toward bitterness and almond-pit character, while Maraska emphasizes ripe cherry fruit flavors and is substantially less bitter. Both are authentic Croatian-heritage maraschino liqueurs, but Luxardo's whole-fruit distillation gives it a more complex, drier edge.

Is Luxardo Maraschino good for cocktails? It is widely considered the gold-standard maraschino for cocktails and appears in dozens of classic recipes, including the Aviation, Hemingway Daiquiri, Last Word, and Martinez.

Where is Luxardo Maraschino made? Luxardo Maraschino is produced at the Luxardo distillery in Torreglia, located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, using Marasca cherries grown on the family's own orchards in the surrounding area.

What foods pair well with Luxardo Maraschino? Dark chocolate truffles complement its roasted-nut and cherry-pit notes. Almond biscotti echo its marzipan character. Fresh stone fruits like apricots highlight its fruit complexity. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano offers a savory contrast to its dry sweetness. Panna cotta or vanilla gelato benefits from a drizzle as a topping.

What sizes does Luxardo Maraschino come in? Luxardo Maraschino is commonly available in 375ml and 750ml bottles, making the half-bottle format ideal for home bartenders who use it primarily as a cocktail modifier.

Is Luxardo Maraschino worth the price? Luxardo Maraschino positions as a premium liqueur within a small, specialized category, and its three-year infusion plus 12-to-18-month aging cycle justify the price relative to competitors; a little goes a long way in cocktails, so even the 375ml bottle lasts through many rounds of drinks.

Why Luxardo Maraschino?

No other maraschino liqueur on the market undergoes a three-year cherry infusion followed by whole-fruit copper-pot distillation and over a year of ash-wood aging. That painstaking process, validated by a 91–92 point rating from Wine Enthusiast and a medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, produces a liqueur with a depth and dryness that lesser alternatives simply cannot replicate. For anyone building a cocktail collection around pre-Prohibition and tiki-era classics, Luxardo Maraschino is not optional—it is foundational. The 375ml format offers a practical entry point into one of the spirits world's most storied and essential bottles.