The Five Best co*cktail Cherries for Your Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, Ranked (2024)

FAQs

The Five Best co*cktail Cherries for Your Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, Ranked? ›

The Perfect Old Fashioned Ingredients

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries – Do NOT use anything other than Luxardo cherries if you want your drink to be perfect. Cheaper maraschino cherries are not suitable for a proper old fashioned.

The Perfect Old Fashioned Ingredients

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries – Do NOT use anything other than Luxardo cherries if you want your drink to be perfect. Cheaper maraschino cherries are not suitable for a proper old fashioned.

Where the American maraschino cherry feels kitschy and nostalgic, the Italian Luxardo cherry exudes elegance. These make you feel special. Luxe, even. Spoon one—or a few—cherries into an icy Manhattan: the sweet cherries play off the drink's red vermouth and reduce the bite of the bourbon.

Italy's Famous co*cktail Cherries

Either can be used, but bright-hued sour, or tart, cherries like the Morello and Montmorency varieties are the traditional choice. They tend to be smaller than sweet varieties, and their flavor holds up against the sugar syrups used typically to preserve co*cktail cherries.

So when you're asking which cherries are the sweetest, you have options. But if you want to know which cherries are the sweetest of the sweetest, that would be any of the black cherries. Bing cherries are the leader of this pack, along with their siblings Lambert, Chelan, Sweetheart, and Tulare.

Luxardo cherries are made in Italy. Each jar is packed with Italian-grown sour marasca cherries that are candied and soaked in sweet syrup.

STEMMED BORDEAUX CHERRIES – Discover a gourmet jar of Bordeaux cherries with stem. Deep purple and juicy, these cherries for Old Fashioned drinks are perfect for creating the classiest of co*cktails. AUTHENTIC co*ckTAIL GARNISH – These dark cherries look great as a garnish for an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

In general, the darker the cherry, the sweeter the flavor. Whatever their color, sweet cherries should be shiny and bright. When not fully ripe, cherries are extremely firm and light in color (relative to their variety); when overripe, they are dull, mushy, sticky and shriveled.

Do maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated? Yes. More detail above. Refrigerate once opened and place on the center shelf in front of all other fridge contents.

Do you refrigerate Luxardo cherries? ›

Fortunately, Luxardo Maraschino cherries last up to 3 years after opening. Don't refrigerate them, because it could cause the sugar to crystalize. Just keep them in a cool, dry place, like it says on the jar.

Luxardo cherries are the original co*cktail cherry, invented back in 1905. They're small and so dark red they almost look black. Preserved in cherry syrup, their flavor is so intense and complex, you'll give up on Maraschinos entirely.

An Old Fashioned is garnished with an orange peel. It is actually a very important addition to the drink. You need to leave the peel inside the drink so by the time you are done, your co*cktail has a nice citrus flavor to it. A Manhattan on the other hand is garnished with a brandied cherry.

Why Luxardo Cherries Are the Most Expensive Cherries on the Planet. … Luxardo Maraschino cherries are the original maraschino cherry. They are practically the most delicious and perfect preserved cherries you'll ever taste.

Bing Cherries

The darker their red color, the riper and more flavorful. Bings are perfect for snacking or other uncooked uses, and are usually available from May to August.

Maraschino cherries are used in many alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and co*cktails, including the Tequila Sunrise, the Queen Mary and the Shirley Temple, giving them the nickname co*cktail cherries.

A co*cktail cherry is any cherry that's been preserved and is meant to be used as a co*cktail garnish. Originally, maraschino referred to a specific type of co*cktail cherry, made from Italian marasca cherries preserved in cherry brandy and liqueur. (The Luxardo brand is an example of this traditional style.)

The original Luxardo cherry recipe was first produced in their plant in Zara in 1905, and is still in use today. Made with no thickening agents or preservatives, a jar still has a shelf life of 3 years. This can contains approximately 50-55 cherries.

Bing Cherries

This variety is usually the first to show up in national markets, as they are the leading commercial sweet cherry. In fact, Bings are so popular that in Washington state, where most American cherries are grown, they are used to measure the growing season of other varieties.

Amarena Cherry

Amarena is a unique type of cherry originating from Bologna in Italy. It was developed by Gennaro Fabbri. The cherries have a dark, almost black color, while the texture of the flesh is tender and firm.

Which cherries are healthier? ›

Sweet cherries have better anti-inflammatory properties than their tart counterparts. They contain more considerable amounts of anthocyanin phytonutrients, a compound that gives cherries their signature red hue. This compound has been linked to reduced risks for heart disease, plaque formation, and cancer.

Dell's Maraschino Cherries, which was established in 1948, produces co*cktail cherries for bars and restaurants across the country, including big name brands like TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, Buffalo Wild Wings, Casears Entertainment, Steak 'n Shake, Chick-fil-A, and Checkers.

According to Tracey Brigman, EdD, associate director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation, an unopened jar of co*cktail cherries can last for up to two years. “Once opened, they can keep for about 6 to 12 months, as long as they are continuously refrigerated during that time,” Brigman continues.

Besides sugar, whiskey and bitters, any other ingredients are uncalled for, though orange slices, cherries and soda water are commonly seen in Old Fashioneds. Many believe these extras were added during Prohibition to help cover up the sting of moonshine.

Dark Sweet Cherries varieties include: Chelan, Sweetheart, Lapin, Sunburst, Stella, and Bing—the most popular. Bing Cherries originated in Oregon, and are grown along the Pacific Coast of the United States and in coastal areas in Central and South America.

The main difference between the two co*cktails lies in the sweeteners used in each. The Old Fashioned calls for sugar, either as a cube or in simple syrup format (where sugar is dissolved into water), whereas the Manhattan employs sweet vermouth, a type of fortified wine.

Sweet cherries are naturally fat-free, low in calories and, in addition to being a good source of fiber, are rich in vitamin C and potassium.

Tart Cherries

Tart or sour Montmorency cherries are high in melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. In one small study, participants experienced longer and more refreshing sleep after consuming a juice concentrate made from this fruit.

Tart cherries contain both melatonin and tryptophan, which could help aid sleep if you're suffering from insomnia.

Cherries should always be kept in the refrigerator, unless you plan to eat them immediately. The best way to increase the longevity of fresh cherries is to make sure they stay as dry as possible. This means that washing fresh cherries before storing them can accelerate the spoiling process.

Should you wash and refrigerate cherries? ›

Do not wash your cherries before storing them in the refrigerator: The moisture that lingers in the hollow at their stem-ends (which are difficult to dry thoroughly) will encourage mold or rot. Before transferring them to the refrigerator pick them over and remove any fruit that is damaged.

Extend cherries' shelf life by placing them on a baking sheet. If you wish to store your cherries for longer, separate them on a baking sheet in a single layer and put them in the refrigerator. Spacing them out will prevent bruising, and they will last longer in the fridge than on the countertop.

Using Frozen Cherries to Make co*cktail Cherries

Since fresh cherries (both sweet and sour) freeze really well, freezing is a great way to preserve them for later use. Just place the pitted cherries in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and carefully place in the freezer.

As long as jars are tightly sealed in a cool, dry environment, maraschino cherries will remain edible for one to two months at room temperature (via Still Tasty). Those stored in continued refrigeration last six to twelve months.

Save the syrup!

You can sub it in for any thick sticky sweet ingredient in your cooking, from maple syrup to honey, date syrup to pomegranate molasses. I have also used it as a soak on cake layers by mixing it 1:1 with either a fortified wine like Madeira or port, or with a tart cherry juice.

Known in Italy as "Marasche al frutto" (literally 'cherries to the fruit'), these are the Marasca cherries used by Luxardo for distilling its renowned Maraschino liqueur, but here preserved in a jar, 50% candied cherries and 50% syrup. No thickening agents or preservatives are used.

Black Tartarian Cherry Tree - Rare and unique heirloom cultivar with fruit too delicate to be sold in stores. (2 years old and 3-4 feet tall.) Black Tartarian is a timeless cultivar that produces extra-large fruit containing some of the richest and sweetest flavor of any cherry grown in the last three centuries!

Luxardo cherries and Maraschino cherries are both technically Maraschino cherries, but there is quite a difference between the two. The former is considered artisanal and high-end, perfect for a craft co*cktail garnish; while the latter is bright red and ideal for topping an ice cream sundae.

On the whole, an Old Fashioned will taste sweeter than a Manhattan and it all has to do with ratios of spirit to sweet element. An Old Fashioned uses a ratio (depending on preferences) of 2 oz bourbon to 1/2 oz simple syrup (or 1/4 rich simple syrup) and a few dashes of bitters.

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries are proprietary sour marasca cherries that are candied and steeped in a syrup made of cherry juice and sugar. The Luxardo family exclusively cultivates over 29,000 Marasca Cherry trees in the Veneto region of Italy.

Can you eat the cherry in a Manhattan? ›

A delicious whiskey marinated cherry. ALWAYS eat it.

You'll find that co*cktail cherries can be found by many different names: brandied cherries, amarena cherries, and in some cases still maraschino cherries (but, more often than not, those are the traditional bright red variety.)

Black Pearl Cherry Tree - Among the largest and sweetest cherries!

Rainier Cherries are more expensive than most because of supply and demand. Rainier cherries are bought by so many people that their price can be easily increased because the demand will still be there.

Bing cherries are the leader of this pack, along with their siblings Lambert, Chelan, Sweetheart, and Tulare. You can recognize them by their dark color and heart shape. These are all incredibly juicy and very sweet — so much so that they've been compared to candy when eaten fresh.

Tart Cherries: Rich in anthocyanins, one study showed that Montmorency tart cherries have a higher anti-inflammatory content than any other food. In addition to showing relief from gout and osteoarthritis symptoms, tart cherry juice is a great way to reduce soreness and inflammation after a hard workout!

Deep red cherries (including Bing and Lapin at PCC) include more than a dozen unique beneficial nutrients and get their deep red hue from powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins and flavanols that block the production of inflammatory proteins.

Maraschino cherries are the neon red, candy-sweet cherries that top ice cream sundaes and classic mixed drinks.

Maraschino cherries are a popular topping for ice cream sundaes and used in certain co*cktails or as garnishes for foods like glazed ham, parfaits, milkshakes, cakes, and pastries. They're also often found in canned fruit mixes.

The Rainier cherry tastes slightly sweeter, is bigger and has a softer skin. Bing cherries are deep red in appearance are smaller and have a tougher skin than the Rainier cherries, they also have a lower sugar content than the Rainier cherries.

Are candied cherries and maraschino cherries the same? ›

Yes and no. Maraschino cherries are a type of cherry from the Croatia region that are typically preserved in a liqueur made from the cherries. Candied cherries are cherries that have been simmered in syrup until all the natural moisture has been replaced by syrup.

Known in Italy as "Marasche al frutto" (literally 'cherries to the fruit'), these are the Marasca cherries used by Luxardo for distilling its renowned Maraschino liqueur, but here preserved in a jar, 50% candied cherries and 50% syrup. No thickening agents or preservatives are used.

something that makes something that is already good even better, or perfect: For his career, the Olympic Games would be the cherry on the cake. He put the cherry on top of the cake by scoring for the third time. Finding this piece of evidence really was the cherry on the sundae for the prosecution's case.

Candied cherries are often dyed with an edible artificial dye, or with red grape juice, to reinforce a jolly red colour. They also come in different colours, including natural and food dye inspired colours to make them green or yellow.

Fortunately, Luxardo Maraschino cherries last up to 3 years after opening. Don't refrigerate them, because it could cause the sugar to crystalize. Just keep them in a cool, dry place, like it says on the jar.

Do maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated? Yes. More detail above. Refrigerate once opened and place on the center shelf in front of all other fridge contents.

Michigan for the win

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, the state produces 70% of tart cherries in the U.S. each year. Michigan is the top U.S. cherry-producing state, followed by Oregon and Washington, according to National Cherry Festival.