You might think all maraschino cherries taste alike. But, after tasting 13 different maraschino cherries, I can tell you that they do not. Not only are there different kinds of cherries in a jar—fancy cherries, ultra-neon-red cherries, bourbon cherries—but within those categories of maraschino cherries there are differences. Yes, even the bright red ones taste different from brand to brand. Don’t worry, though—out of those 13 jars, I found the three best maraschino cherries you can buy.
How did I taste test these cherries? I ate them straight out of the jar, of course. I also tried a few of the more cocktail-centric brands in Manhattans. You know, for my job. No other reason.
I looked for maraschino cherries with great texture—they shouldn’t turn to mush, but they should have some give, for sure. I looked for actual cherry flavor. And I looked for vibrancy. Maraschino cherries are typically used as edible garnishes (but no one here will shame you if you want to eat them by the bowlful), so they should provide a bright pop of flavor. Like a tiny, fruity firework.
Here are the best maraschino cherries to buy, whether you’re making Shirley Temples, ice cream sundaes, or you’re looking for the best maraschino cherries for cocktails because you’re making Manhattans by the pitcher (invite me over!).
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- Barsmith Cocktail Cherries
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You’re either a neon red maraschino cherry person or you aren’t. I’m not. I’m the dining companion who will happily pass you the cherry from atop my hot fudge sundae. Go crazy. It’s all yours. So, tasting a bunch of brands of this type of maraschino cherry was eye-opening for me. Because it turns out there is one brand of bright red maraschino cherries that I do like: Barsmith. The flavor is bright and zippy. And while these don’t necessarily taste like real cherries, they have a cherry vibe. And they don’t taste too fake. They’re slick with syrup without being too slimy. Plus, they aren’t mushy. This jar of cherries is filled with perfectly formed, stem-on, glowingly red cherries. They’ve made a convert out of me. There’s no denying a cherry like this is the best maraschino cherry to finish off a sundae or banana split or dunk into a Shirley Temple or a Roy Rogers.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
- Tillen Farms by Stonewall Kitchen Bourbon Bada Bing Cherries
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Way on the other end of the spectrum of cherries in a jar are these bourbon cherries. These are grown-up maraschino cherries. They really taste like bourbon—almost like an edible cocktail in the form of a cherry. Because it’s not all bourbon. You definitely get a rich, fruity cherry flavor and then a kick of bourbon at the end—good bourbon, at that. These bourbon-soaked cherries taste like the cherry you end up with at the end of a Manhattan. They’re the best maraschino cherries for cocktails if you really want to kick the night into high gear.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Luxardo Maraschino Cherries
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If you’ve been to a bar that pretends to be a speakeasy even though they have a Yelp page and you’ve ordered a Manhattan or a Last Word, then you’ve had these cherries. They’re pretty much every bartender’s choice for a reason: They’re the best maraschino cherries. They are so deeply flavorful with a concentrated cherry flavor—like they were dried and then rehydrated with cherry juice. And the texture is great. You break the skin with a snap and are met with firm but forgiving meat. They can go in a cocktail or a mocktail or you can upgrade that sundae of yours. I go through a jar of cherries from this brand in record time because I can’t help but put two into my drink and snack on one while I stir. Yes, they’re kinda expensive. But there’s nothing like them.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best for Sundaes
Best Bourbon Cherries
Best of the Best
Other maraschino cherries we tried: Trader Joe’s Pitted Amarena Cherries with Stems in Syrup, Tillen Farms by Stonewall Kitchen Bada Bing Cherries, Rex Maraschino Cherries, Sable & Rosenfeld Bourbon Tipsy Dark Reserve Cherries, Filthy Black Cherry, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries, Starlino Maraschino Cherries, Mezzetta Maraschino Cherries, Filthy Red Cherry, Tillen Farms by Stonewall Kitchen Merry Maraschino Cherries
