Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin 750ML

Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin 750ML is a 37.5% ABV (75 proof), 750ml Italian gin that infuses a London Dry base with juice from estate-grown Marasca cherries. Garnering Silver Medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the 2019 New York International Spirits Competition, this garnet-hued spirit stands at an unusual intersection of classic gin and fruit-driven complexity that separates it from typical flavored gins.

Quick Facts: ABV: 37.5%  |  Origin: Torreglia, Veneto, Italy  |  Style: Cherry-Infused London Dry Gin  |  Distillery: Luxardo

Production & Heritage

The Luxardo family has been synonymous with Marasca cherries for over two centuries, cultivating the fruit exclusively in their own orchards in the Euganean Hills of Veneto. To produce this gin, the distillery first creates a London Dry base using nine botanicals—juniper, coriander, iris, angelica, sedge, licorice, cinnamon, cardamom, and bitter orange—then infuses it with juice from those proprietary Marasca cherries. The result is a spirit with genuine botanical backbone rather than a simple fruit liqueur, landing firmly in gin territory while carrying the distinctive tartness and depth that only Marasca cherries deliver.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pungent Marasca cherry rises immediately, followed by intense juniper and a thread of warm cardamom spice. A subtle almond quality and jammy fruit sweetness emerge as the spirit opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is unmistakably gin—juniper-forward with assertive spice from coriander and cinnamon. At mid-palate, tart cherry and lightly tannic fruit arrive alongside hints of chocolate and earthiness. Peppery cardamom spice and a delicate bitter orange note lift the profile toward the peak, keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish: Velvety Marasca cherry coats the back of the tongue, giving way to a long-lasting sour aftertaste that lingers well past the final sip. A light bitterness and dry botanical character persist, preventing the finish from turning cloying.

How to Drink Sour Cherry Gin

Neat or over a single large ice cube, this gin rewards slow sipping—the cherry character expands as it warms slightly. Its natural tartness and botanical complexity also make it a formidable cocktail ingredient.

• Negroni: The Marasca cherry tartness plays beautifully against Campari's bitterness, adding a fruity depth that sweet vermouth alone cannot achieve.
• Clover Club: Swap in Sour Cherry Gin for the standard London Dry to amplify the raspberry syrup's berry notes with complementary cherry acidity.
• Tom Collins: The sour cherry infusion adds natural color and a tart dimension that reduces the need for added citrus, creating a visually striking long drink.

Best For

• Gifting a cocktail enthusiast who already owns every standard London Dry
• Building a Negroni variation flight for a home cocktail gathering
• Adding a distinctive bottle to a gin collection focused on unique botanical profiles
• Introducing gin-skeptical drinkers to the category through a fruit-forward entry point

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin taste like? It leads with bold juniper and warm spice typical of London Dry gin, then transitions into tart Marasca cherry, light chocolate, and earthy notes, finishing with a lingering sour cherry aftertaste.

How does Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin compare to sloe gin? Despite the fruit infusion, this is not a sloe gin—it carries a higher ABV (37.5% versus the typical 25-30% for sloe gin) and retains a pronounced juniper-forward London Dry structure rather than relying heavily on sugar and berry sweetness. The Marasca cherry juice provides tartness and depth without the heavy syrupy quality common in sloe gins.

Is Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin good for cocktails? Its balance of dry gin botanicals and natural cherry acidity makes it exceptionally versatile in cocktails, particularly in Negronis, Clover Clubs, and Collins variations where the tart fruit character adds complexity without overwhelming other ingredients.

Where is Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin made? It is produced at the Luxardo Distillery in Torreglia, located in the Veneto region of northeast Italy, using Marasca cherries grown exclusively in the Luxardo family's orchards in the nearby Euganean Hills.

What foods pair well with Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin? Dark chocolate truffles complement the gin's cocoa and cherry notes. Duck breast with cherry reduction mirrors the Marasca tartness. Aged gouda or pecorino offer salty contrast to the fruit. Charcuterie with fennel salami echoes the spice botanicals. Almond biscotti pick up the subtle marzipan undertone in the cherry profile.

What sizes does Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin come in? The standard widely available format is the 750ml bottle.

Is Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium flavored gin backed by Luxardo's centuries-old reputation for Marasca cherry products, and its use of estate-grown fruit and a genuine London Dry base distinguishes it from mass-market fruit gins that rely on artificial flavoring.

Why Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin?

What separates this expression from the crowded flavored gin market is provenance: the Marasca cherries are not sourced from a third party but cultivated by the Luxardo family in their own Euganean Hills orchards, the same fruit that underpins their iconic Maraschino liqueur. The London Dry base, distilled with nine carefully selected botanicals, ensures this drinks like a real gin rather than a sweetened spirit with cherry flavoring. Multiple Silver Medals—including recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and New York International Spirits Competition—validate its quality among industry judges. For anyone seeking a gin that bridges classic juniper character with genuine fruit complexity, this bottle represents a category largely its own.