Here are the best Maraschino liqueur cocktails to make with a bottle! These classic cocktails look stunning and are full of flavor.
Got a bottle of Maraschino liqueur and not sure what to do with it? Or deciding whether to buy some? Either way, let’s be clear: this cherry-flavored liqueur is not the liquid in a jar of maraschino cherries! This clear liquor is an ingredient that features in a good handful of classic cocktails that originated in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It’s full of great flavor and a lot of history!
What is Maraschino liqueur?
Maraschino liqueur is a clear, cherry-flavored liqueur that’s used in many classic cocktails. It’s made by distilling Marasca cherries, a variety that grows on the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Large scale production of Maraschino started back in 1759 in Zadar, Croatia, where it’s still manufactured today. It’s also made elsewhere in Europe and the US.
Maraschino liqueur was the most popular cherry liqueur starting in the late 1800’s. It starred in many popular cocktails like the Martinez, the precursor to the Martini and Manhattan (see the recipe below). It’s generally used as a secondary flavor to back up primary liquors like gin, rum or whiskey.
What does Maraschino taste like?
The flavor is dry with a hint of sweet, with vanilla, sour cherry and almond notes. It adds an incredible complexity to cocktails because of its unexpected flavor. When you add it to cocktails, it adds a hint of brightness and roundness to the sip.
How much alcohol is in Maraschino? It is 32% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it’s mid-level alcohol. Compare this to 40% ABV for liquors like whiskey, rum, vodka and gin.
Why we like it
Maraschino liqueur adds a unique layer of complexity to cocktails! It stars in several lesser known classic cocktails that we think deserve time in the spotlight, like the Martinez, Hemingway Daiquiri and Last Word. It’s absolutely worth a purchase for the budding home mixologist.
How much does it cost?
Compared to other liquors, Maraschino is mid-priced. It costs about $30 for a 750 ml bottle. There are several brands of maraschino liqueur. The most popular one is Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, which should be easy to find at your local liquor store. Other popular brands include Lazzaroni, Maraska, and Bols.
Most popular Maraschino liqueur cocktails
This liqueur is absolutely buying for the at-home home bartender! You can drink it straight as a digestif, but it really shines in cocktails. What drinks can you make with it? We’re glad you asked…
Arguably the most popular maraschino liqueur cocktail: the Martinez! The Martinez is a classic cocktail that dates back to the 1880’s. It’s a precursor to the Martini, but it’s also very closely related to the Manhattan. To us, it’s an improvement on both! There’s so much going on flavor-wise. It’s balanced and just sweet enough, with notes of cherry and cinnamon, and a little spice at the finish. This cocktail hasn’t caught on in the same way as its cousins: but it absolutely deserves a place at the table.
Ingredients: Gin, sweet vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters
Tied for the top of the classic maraschino liqueur cocktails is the Hemingway Daiquiri! This spin on the Classic Daiquiri was invented in the 1880's in honor of the famous writer himself, Ernest Hemingway. Tart, almost bitter grapefruit balances the acidity of lime, and maraschino liqueur adds notes of sour cherry and almond. There’s a lot going on flavor-wise, but it’s very easy to make.
Also try: Pineapple Rum Cocktail
Ingredients: White rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Maraschino liqueur
Here’s a maraschino liqueur cocktail for the adventurous home bartender: the Last Word cocktail! This pale green gin sour is a classic cocktail that originated around 1915, but was all but lost to history. But with the revival of cocktail culture, this one’s come back strong! It’s equal parts sharp, sweet, and sour: full of intrigue and nuance from the Maraschino and Chartruese, a green French liqueur.
Ingredients: Gin, Maraschino liqueur, Chartreuse liqueur, lime juice
Here’s a 1920’s Maraschino liqueur cocktail that’s all about charm: the Mary Pickford cocktail! Take one sip and it’s intriguing: pleasantly sweet and sour from the pineapple juice with a slightly funky finish from the Maraschino. This one looks like it’s straightforward: but there’s more to this pretty pink drink than you’d expect!
Ingredients: White rum, pineapple juice, Maraschino liqueur, grenadine
Here’s a classic maraschino liqueur cocktail that’s come back en vogue: the Aviation! This purple cocktail tastes as great as it looks. It’s sweet tart, with a hint of cherry and a floral nuance that come from maraschino liqueur and crème de violette! It's a gin drink created back in the early 1900’s that's come into a revival today.
Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur, crème de violette
Love a Manhattan? Then you absolutely must try this maraschino spin on the classic: the Brooklyn cocktail! The Brooklyn was born in the early 1900's and is similarly spirit forward, with a few special twists to add nuance. Maraschino liqueur and dry vermouth add intrigue and round out the flavor in this sophisticated drink. This one is perfect for impressing friends at a dinner party or cocktail hour.
Ingredients: Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Amer Picon or other herbal, citrusy amaro
Maraschino Liqueur Cocktails: Martinez & More!
(11 votes, average: 4.91 out of 5)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
The Martinez cocktail is a true classic! A cousin to the Martini and Manhattan, it’s sophisticated and classy: perfect for slow sipping.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) gin
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) sweet vermouth
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Maraschino liqueur
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- For the garnish: orange peel
Instructions
- Combine the gin, sweet vermouth, and Maraschino liqueur in a cocktail mixing glass (or any other type of glass). Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail glass.
- Use a knife to remove a strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass. If desired, twist it, then place it in the glass and serve.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Keywords: Maraschino Liqueur Cocktails
More cocktails
Looking for more cocktail recipes? We’ve got ’em. Here are some of our favorite collections for you to browse:
- Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- Easy: These 10 Easy Mixed Drinks have 2 to 3 ingredients.
- The Big 5: These drink lists all feature the top 5 most popular alcohols: Gin Cocktails, Vodka Cocktails, Whiskey Cocktails, Tequila Cocktails or Rum Cocktails.
- By Season: Try our Fall Drinks, Fall Cocktails, Winter Drinks, Holiday Drinks, or Summer Cocktails.
- By Ingredient: Try our cocktails with Cointreau, Amaretto, Wine, Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari, Vermouth, Coffee, or Orange Juice.
Last updated: April 2021
About the Authors
Sonja Overhiser
Cookbook Author and writer
Sonja Overhiser is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best healthy cookbooks of 2018. She’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the food blog A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja seeks to inspire adventurous eating to make the world a better place one bite at a time.
Alex Overhiser
Cookbook Author and photographer
Alex Overhiser is an acclaimed food photographer and author based in Indianapolis. He’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the recipe website A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Alex is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best vegetarian cookbooks by Epicurious.
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