20 best Maraschino Cocktails

Maraschino liqueur is made from sour Marasca cherries. The cherries' flavour, along with that of its pit (stone) are extracted by distillation to produce a clear, complex, relatively dry liqueur with subtle almond notes from the cherry stones.

Maraschino liqueur is a classic cocktail ingredient used in 100s of cocktails, but has become particularly synonymous with the Aviation, Last Word, and contemporary New York Minute. These, and riffs on these three cocktails, all feature in the cocktails below.

1. Aviation Cocktail (Difford's recipe)

With: Dry gin, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, creme de violette and lemon juice
We say: Benefits from a long shake/dilution. Citrus, floral gin with a slightly sour finish.
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2. Bermondsey Minute

With: Reposado tequila, vermouth rosso alla vaniglia, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, lavender sugar syrup, and lavender bitters.
We say: Tequila and lavender are a match made in heaven, made more complex with herbal wine notes from the vermouth and aromatised by delicately fruity maraschino cherry.
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3. Brooklyn (perfect)

With: Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, rosso vermouth, amer, and Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur.
We say: A perfect Manhattan with bittersweet liqueur rather than aromatic bitters and a balancing dash of sweet maraschino liqueur.
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4. Casino

With: Dry gin, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and orange bitters
We say: Basically, an Aviation without crème de violette, dried and made more complex with a dash of orange bitters.
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5. Cherry Manhattan

With: , Bourbon, rosso vermouth, rye whiskey, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and cherry brandy liqueur.
We say: "Cherry" may be upfront in the name of this Sweet Manhattan riff but the cherry notes are far from dominant – garnish excluded.
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6. Closing Argument

With: Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and lime juice
We say: A mezcal-based Last Word. It works! End of argument.
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7. Daiquiri (frozen)

With: Gold rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and Xanthan gum.
We say: Maraschino plays a small but crucial role in this refreshing Cuban classic.
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8. Division Bell

With: Mezcal, Aperol, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and lime juice.
We say: A mezcal inspired variation of the Last Word with a refreshing, boozy blend of ingredients.
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9. Dublin Minstrel

With: Irish whisky, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and lime juice
We say: Named after Frank Fogarty, a vaudeville performer known as the The Dublin Minstrel. Fogarty is referenced in Ted Saucier's 1951 Bottoms Up! book as introducing the Last Word to the Detroit Athletic Club.
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10. Elixir Tropical

With: Light white rum, lime juice, orgeat syrup, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, aromatic bitters and mint leaves.
We say: Almond contributes to this Daiquiri-style cocktail's tropical character.
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11. Fancy Free

With: Bourbon, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters and orange bitters.
We say: Aromatised, tamed bourbon with complex maraschino notes.
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12. Final Ward

With: Rye whiskey, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and lemon juice.
We say: The Last Word is classically made with gin, maraschino, Chartreuse and lime juice. In this riff, whiskey replaces the gin, and Mr Ward switches citrus fruits from lime to lemon.

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13. Illegal Margarita

With: Mezcal, overproof white rum, Falernum liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, lime juice, sugar syrup, egg white, Margarita Bitters, and saline solution.
We say:
Two massively flavoursome spirits and two very characterful liqueurs combine harmoniously in this delicious sour.
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14. Hemingway Special Daiquiri (Papa Doble)

With: Gold rum, pink grapefruit juice, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, lime juice, and sugar syrup.
We say: This famous classic is also known as a Papa Doble for good reason; it's twice the size of a regular cocktail.
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15. The Last Word

With: Dry gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and lime juice
We say: Chartreuse devotees will love this balanced, tangy drink. I'm one.
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16. Last Palabra

With: Reposado tequila, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, lavender sugar syrup, lime juice, and lavender bitters.
We say: Tequila replaces gin in this delicately lavender-influenced riff on the classic Last Word.
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17. Loose Talk

With: Rye whiskey, gentian liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice, lime juice, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and Bénédictine D.O.M..
We say: A riff on a Last Ward. Spirit-forward, bittersweet and aromatic.
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18. New Orleans Minute

With: Mezcal, tequila, Antica Formula, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, sugar syrup and orange bitters
We say: Perhaps not a Bourbon Street staple but characterful nonetheless with tequila, mezcal, aromatised wine, maraschino and orange bitters.
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19. New York Minute

With: Reposado tequila, Antica Formula, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, sugar syrup and whiskey barrel aged bitters.
We say: Honeyed tequila and aromatic maraschino with complex herbal vinous notes.
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20. Ultima Palabra

With: Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, pineapple juice and lime juice
We say: This riff on the Last Word is named after the direct Spanish translation of Last Word, hence the use of mezcal in place of gin. Pineapple juice, another distinguishing feature of this riff on the classic, works brilliantly - adding a fruity sweetness and complexity.
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280 more maraschino cocktails.