Maraschino: an overview of the cult liqueur + 10 cocktail recipes

The popular liqueur Maraschino (also known as Maraskino or Maraskin) is a colorless drink with an almond-like bitterness in its taste. Maraschino is made from the bitter (cocktail) maraschino cherry that grows in the Balkans.

In fact, the name of the cherry itself comes from the Latin word amarus - bitter. The drink dates back to the 16th century and is associated with the Dominican monks who once settled in Dalmatia (the territory of modern Croatia).

History of the drink

The fall of the Venetian Republic did not affect the popularity of the drink. More than that. The house of Drioli has competitors from among the Zar countrymen of the maraschino pioneer: Girolamo Luxardo (1821) and Romano Vlahov (1861).

The echo of the unprecedented popularity of the liqueur in Europe at that time was the tradition of placing bottles of the drink in a special straw braid, which once protected glass containers during long-term transportation.

When Zadar became part of socialist Yugoslavia after the end of World War II, Maraschino producers emigrated to Italy.

In the end, only Luxardo's company survived, and it was revived not far from Padua, in the town of Torrella. Perhaps the reason for this was the parallel establishment of the production of the eponymous sambuca by the entrepreneurial family.

Production of Maraschino

The alcoholic base for the liqueur is cherry brandy distilled from the unassuming arrowroot pulp.

This distillate is infused for several months on the pressed seeds of the same maraschino cherry, and then aged for three years in ash barrels.

The latter circumstance gives the drink a certain softness, while maintaining its pristine transparency, given the low tannin content in ash wood.

At the final stage, Maraschino is ennobled with a little sugar syrup (adding any fruit and berry juices or essences to the liqueur is traditionally prohibited).

Leading manufacturers of Maraschino liqueur

In addition to the notorious Luxardo House, which accounts for more than 4/5 of all Maraschino produced in the world, a drink known as Maraska Maraschino is also produced in Croatia.

The strength of both types of liqueur is 32 degrees. A less strong version of the drink, containing 25% alcohol, belongs to the Italian campaign Lazzaroni Maraschino.

Since the very name of the Adriatic cherry has not been subject to copyright or geographical restrictions, any distiller living anywhere in the world has the right to produce it.

The use of Maraschino

The specific taste of the liqueur makes it virtually unsuitable for consumption in its pure form.

However, it is precisely this feature, multiplied by its perfect transparency, that has made this drink one of the most favorite ingredients for a wide variety of cocktails.

The latter include: ("Casino", "The Last Word", "Tango" and some others).

GinMar

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 10 ml

2. Dry London gin - 40 ml

3. Lemon juice - 10 ml

4. Orange bitters - 1 drop

5. Cocktail cherries - 1 piece

Method of preparation

1. Shake all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Pour through a strainer into a glass.

3. Put the cherry on the bottom of the container.

The last word

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 15 ml

2. Dry London gin - 15 ml

3. Green Chartreuse - 15 ml

4. Lime juice - 15 ml

The method of preparation

1. Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice.

2. Strain through a strainer into a glass.

Tango

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 30 ml

2. Vodka - 30 ml

3. Dry white wine - 15 ml

4. Blueberry juice - 75 ml

5. Sugar - 5 g

The method of preparation

1. Chill the cocktail glass.

2. Provide it with a sugar rim.

3. Combine vodka, liqueur and juice in a mixing glass.

4. Pour the contents of the glass into a glass with a rim.

5. Add the wine.

Abbey martini

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 20 ml

2. Dry London gin - 30 ml

3. Dry white vermouth - 5 ml

4. Orange juice - 15 ml

5. Angostura - 3 drops

6. Cocktail cherry - 1 piece

Method of preparation

1. Shake all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Strain through a strainer into a glass.

3. Garnish with a cherry.

Aviation

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 10 ml

2. Dry London gin - 35 ml

3. Lemon juice - 25 ml

4. Simple sugar syrup - 10 ml

5. Orange zest - 1 spiral

The method of preparation

1. Mix all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Pour through a strainer into a glass.

3. Garnish with a zest.

Bengal

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 10 ml

2. Ordinary brandy or cognac - 40 ml

3. Orange liqueur - 10 ml

4. Orange bitters - 4 drops

5. Pineapple juice - 15 ml

6. Cocktail cherry - 1 piece

Method of preparation

1. Shake all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Strain through a strainer into a glass.

3. Garnish with a cherry.

Brooklyn 2

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 2 desks

2. Canadian whiskey - 40 ml

3. Dry white vermouth - 20 ml

Method of preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.

2. Pour through a strainer into a glass.

Honolulu

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 10 ml

2. Dry London gin - 20 ml

3. Apricot brandy - 10 ml

Method of preparation

1. Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice.

2. Pour over a strainer into a glass.

Cardinal 2

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 25 ml

2. Golden rum - 60 ml

3. Orange liqueur - 1 dash

4. Grenadine syrup - 5 ml

5. Cocktail cherry - 1 piece

Method of preparation

1. Shake all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Strain through a strainer into a glass.

3. Garnish with a cherry.

Cat

Ingredients

1. Maraschino - 10 ml

2. Dubonnet - 40 ml

3. Ordinary armagnac - 10 ml

4. Cocktail cherries - 1 piece

Method of preparation

1. Mix all liquids in a shaker with ice.

2. Pour through a strainer into a glass.

3. Garnish with a cherry.

Update: 27.11.2017

Category: Liqueurs and Tinctures