Cocktails with Maraschino cherry
A maraschino cherry is a cherry preserved in sweetened syrup, dropped into a finished drink. It comes in two very different forms. The traditional marasca cherry is now usually candied in its own syrup; the modern bright-red one is bleached and dyed.
How it's used
It usually goes into the finished drink as the garnish, the classic one for a Manhattan, Old Fashioned or whiskey sour. A little of the jar syrup can follow for extra sweetness and color. A marasca cherry adds real fruit flavor; a bright-red one is mostly decoration.
Substitutes for Maraschino cherry
Cocktail cherry
Any kind works. Amarena or marasca in syrup will be darker, usually sweeter, and offer a real rather than candied flavor.
Fresh or frozen cherry
Works beautifully for garnishing or muddling, with less sugar. Just remember to pit it first.
Cherry syrup
If you have no fruit, a barspoon of syrup brings the right flavor to a muddled preparation. You only lose the garnish.
A barspoon at most. The clear liqueur offers the flavor and strength, but leaves you with nothing to muddle.
