Luxardo Maraschino Perla Dry
Luxardo Maraschino Perla Dry is the most prestigious liqueur in the Luxardo range — a 40% ABV (80 proof) dry maraschino built on a marasca cherry distillate base more than 50 years old. Released in 2021 as "Riserva Bicentenario" for Luxardo's 200th anniversary, this strictly limited edition of 4,999 numbered bottles revives the Maraschino Luxardo Riserva Speciale last produced in the 1970s. Order this collector's Italian liqueur online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% ABV (80 proof) — high alcohol, considerably reduced sugar (hence "Dry")
- Size: 750mL
- Age/base: Marasca cherry distillate base over 50 years old; riserva recipe last produced in the 1970s
- Origin: Torreglia (Padova), Veneto, Italy — estate-grown Marasca cherries
- Limited edition: 4,999 numbered bottles; released 2021 for the 200th anniversary
- Packaging: Flask-shaped antique blue glass bottle with 200-year logo in relief, hand-wrapped in straw with red capsule; Liberty label; eco-leather gift box with history booklet and 200th anniversary pin
Two Centuries of Luxardo, in 4,999 Bottles
The Luxardo family's maraschino story begins in 1821, and for the company's 200th anniversary they brought back the crown jewel of the range: Maraschino Perla Dry, the Riserva Speciale that had been out of production since the 1970s. It starts with the same Marasca cherries grown on the Luxardo estate in Italy's Veneto — distilled with the crushed pits for that signature bitter-almond edge — but here the distillate base is more than half a century old, the alcohol runs high at 40%, and the sugar is cut back for a drier, more intense liqueur. The presentation matches the liquid: a flask-shaped antique blue glass bottle, hand-wrapped in straw like the early-1900s originals, with a restyled Liberty label, boxed in eco-leather with a booklet on the company history and a 200th anniversary pin. Explore more Luxardo and other Italian liqueurs and cocktail essentials at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Crystal clear.
Nose: Kirsch eau-de-vie-like, with strong alcohol spirit (surprisingly so for its ABV), roasted nuttiness, and faint smoke.
Palate: Intense, thick, and syrupy — sweetness partially offset by fruit tartness; concentrated cherry juice and cherry jam with black pepper spice.
How to Enjoy
A connoisseur's maraschino for classic cocktails — the dry profile makes it exceptional in an Aviation, a Martinez, or a Hemingway Daiquiri, where standard maraschinos can cloy. Sip it neat from a small glass to appreciate the 50-year distillate depth, or gift the numbered bottle as the centerpiece of a cocktail-lover's collection. A little goes a long way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Perla Dry? The most prestigious maraschino in Luxardo's range — a high-alcohol (40% ABV), reduced-sugar ("dry") version built on a marasca cherry distillate base more than 50 years old. The riserva recipe was last produced in the 1970s and revived for Luxardo's 200th anniversary in 2021.
How many bottles were made? 4,999 numbered bottles, marketed as "Riserva Bicentenario."
How is it different from standard Luxardo Maraschino? Standard Luxardo Maraschino is 32% ABV and sweeter; Perla Dry runs 40% ABV with considerably reduced sugar, an older distillate base, and far more intensity — plus the limited-edition anniversary packaging.
What cocktails use maraschino liqueur? The classics: the Aviation (gin, lemon, crème de violette), the Martinez, and the Hemingway Daiquiri — all built around maraschino's dry cherry-almond character.
Only 4,999 numbered bottles of this 200th-anniversary riserva were ever released — add Luxardo Maraschino Perla Dry to your collection from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.