Amarena vs maraschino
Fruit-forward cocktails are always in style, and few garnishes are as iconic as the cherry. To find out which works best in the glass, let’s compare the Amarena and the maraschino to find the best options for various cocktails.
On store shelves, you’ll find both cherries pitted and preserved in syrup. Both can be used in cocktails, as ice cream toppings (think Banana Splits and sundaes), and in a host of other cherry-based recipes. Amarena cherries are a specific variety of cherries grown in Italy whereas maraschino cherries are named after the liqueur that is made from Marasca cherries.
The Marasca cherry is a type of sour Morello famously grown along the Croatian coast. However, it has also been successfully cultivated in northeast Italy and Slovenia. “Marasca” comes from the Italian word amaro (bitter), a term that describes a category of Italian digestivos, typically consumed at the end of a meal to aid in digestion and settle the stomach. The fruit itself, compared to other types, is small with a bitter taste and dry pulp. These attributes make it ideal for creating a cherry liqueur. True maraschino liqueur is supposed to only be made with Marasca cherries. From timeless classics to innovative creations, the maraschino cherry has become an essential component to any cocktail bar. While the glow-in-the-dark, super sweet, little red orbs are usually what come to mind, opt for the darker maraschino cherries like Luxardo brand for a more artisanal experience.
The Cherry Bomb, a bold spin on the classic Manhattan, uses maraschino liqueur and, of course, a cherry for garnish.
Cherry Bomb
Yields 1
1 ½ oz bourbon (Canadian corn-based whisky works nicely, too)
1 oz maraschino cherry liqueur
½ oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Garnish: orange peel and maraschino cherry
Add the bourbon, liqueur, and vermouth to a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice, then add the two dashes of bitters. Stir. Garnish with the orange peel and maraschino cherry.
The Amarena cherry is mostly found in the region of Emilia-Romagna around the cities of Bologna and Modena in Italy. Small, dark, and intensely flavoured, they are preserved and bottled in syrup for even more depth. While several companies offer Amarena cherries in syrup, the most iconic of all is the Fabbri brand in their signature hand-painted, blue and white ceramic jars. While these cherries would typically be served with a pastry, a decadent chocolate dessert, or the famous Christmas panettone, they could also be used as a garnish to elevate a simple glass of prosecco or to create a colourful Amarena Spritz.
Amarena Spritz
Yields 1
3 oz prosecco
½ oz Amarena cherry syrup
Sparkling water
Garnish: Amarena cherry
Pour prosecco and syrup into a wine glass filled with ice. Stir gently, then fill the glass to the top with sparkling water. Garnish with an Amarena cherry on a cocktail skewer
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