Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherries
Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherries are sour Marasca cherries, candied and steeped in a syrup made from Marasca cherry juice and sugar, produced by the Luxardo family in the Veneto region of Italy. These are the dark, firm, real-fruit cherries that define the classic cocktail garnish — nothing like the imitation neon variety — and they are available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Size: 400g (14.1oz) jar — US retail standard per the importer; confirm jar vs 1kg tin before apply
- Product: Sour Marasca cherries candied in Marasca cherry juice syrup (about 50% fruit, 50% syrup)
- Producer: Luxardo, Torreglia — family house founded 1821
- Fruit: Marasca cherries (Prunus cerasus var. marasca), from Luxardo's own cultivation
- Texture: Firm, with a thick, rich syrup
- Origin: Veneto, Italy
- Use: Cocktail garnish, desserts, ice cream, baking
The Cherry That Replaced the Neon One
Luxardo has grown its own sour Marasca cherries since the house was founded in 1821 — today the family cultivates over 30,000 Marasca trees in the Veneto — and its Original Maraschino Cherries are simply those cherries, candied fresh and steeped in their own juice syrup. The result is a garnish with genuine sour-cherry flavour and a firm bite that holds up in a stirred drink, which is why these jars sit on serious back bars everywhere. Browse the house on the Luxardo vendor page, and pair a jar with the Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur made from the same fruit, or browse our sodas and snacks collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand: dark and decadent, with the rich, sweet-sour flavour of a real sour Marasca cherry — firm flesh, concentrated cherry depth, and a thick syrup that is itself worth spooning over desserts.
How to Enjoy
Drop one into a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, spear one for a Whiskey Sour, or spoon cherries and syrup over ice cream sundaes, cheesecake and baked goods. A teaspoon of the syrup also deepens sours and spritzes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Luxardo cherries and regular maraschino cherries?
Luxardo's are real sour Marasca cherries candied and steeped in Marasca cherry juice syrup — dark, firm and naturally flavoured — rather than the bleached, artificially coloured and flavoured neon cherries sold as imitations.
Where do the cherries come from?
The Luxardo family exclusively cultivates tens of thousands of Marasca cherry trees in the Veneto region of Italy, where the house is based at Torreglia.
Do Luxardo cherries contain alcohol?
No — this is a candied fruit product in cherry juice syrup, a garnish and ingredient, not a liqueur.
One jar upgrades every cocktail it touches — order Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherries online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
