Maraschino liqueur - delicate cherry drink

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Liqueurs in the world is made a great variety. Each of them differs from their counterparts in both recipe and taste. Liquor "Maraschino" (Maraschino) - a delicate cherry drink with a light aroma of almonds, rightfully takes its place of honor among all. In addition, he has gained worldwide fame.

Maraschino liqueur. Brief description

This liquor is a clear, tasty, sweetish liquor with an alcohol content of 32%. It is made from crushed berries and maraschino cherries, which gives it that distinctive, beloved by many almond flavor. According to a unique technology, real Maraschino must be aged (brewed) for at least 3 years.

What is a maraschino cherry?

It is also called marasca (marasca) is a regional type of cherry that grows mainly on the Dalmatian coast near Zadar. Now the variety is also cultivated in the Balkans and in northern Italy. From such cherries, the liqueur of the same name is made. Initially, it was produced exclusively from this type of berry,but today other varieties are already used. Cocktail cherries are called maraschino cherries in the British language.

During the time of Tito, the Italians were expelled from these places, and cherries began to be bred in Northern Italy. There they began to produce the Maraschino liqueur itself. However, it should be noted that it was also produced in Yugoslavia at the same time. Compared to some other varieties, maraschino cherries have the smallest berries and a tart, bitter taste. This is where its name comes from (from the Italian amaro, from the Latin amarus - “bitter”).

A bit of history

Maraschino liqueur dates back to the 16th century, and the monks of the Zadar region began to make it. Then it belonged to the Republic of Venice. On the modern map of the world, this is Croatia. The production of Maraschino on an industrial scale started back in 1759 on the initiative of F. Drioli.

And in 1821 another plant for the production of a drink was founded, the owner of which was J. Luxardo. Cherry liqueur was so in demand and popular in the 18th century that it was delivered to many of the royal tables of Europe. Today, this brand produces products in Padua under the label Luxardo Maraschino.

Drink production

Making Maraschino is more like making cognac than making a classic liqueur. The raw material is filled with sweet sugar syrup, and filtered after a long exposure. At the very beginning of the process, maraschino cherries are crushed into a homogeneous mass together with a stone and poured into Finnish ash barrels. Maraschino must be infused there for up to 3 years. Then the resulting liqueur will be filtered and bottled.

Several recipes

In the culinary traditions of many countries, cherry liqueur is quite actively used to make various desserts, ice cream and delicious fruit-based salads.

• For example, it is quite affordable to build a delicious dessert, which includes creamy ice cream and Maraschino as ingredients. We take yolks from 8 eggs, one and a half glasses of sugar, a vanilla stick and a liter of milk. We heat the whole mass, gently stirring, over low heat. When the mixture begins to thicken, strain the ice cream through a sieve, add a few large spoons of cherry liqueur and pour into molds. Then we put the ice cream in the freezer, and serve it to the table together with fruit.

  

• Champagne cobbler cocktail. You will need Maraschino, Curacao, lemon juice, champagne and half a peach. Mix one serving of each of the liqueurs (20 ml) in a glass with lemon juice. About a third fill the container with ice. Put a chopped peach on top and fill the gaps with champagne.
• "Maraschino" with rum is also of particular interest to gourmets. We take one part of cherry liqueur and five parts of Cuban rum, drip a few drops of orange bitter, mix and put the orange zest. Serve over ice or chilled.

Pure

Maraschino drink and clean. It will be correct to use it together with ice cubes. Original and fresh tastethe drink will appeal to both the fairer sex and men. "Maraschino" has a unique aroma. Due to the fact that cherries are used together with the stones in the production of the drink, Maraschino has a distinct taste of almonds, which looks a little like another famous drink - Amaretto, which is made from almonds.

Maraschino DIY

Of course, in the current difficult economic conditions, not every average consumer has access to Maraschino liqueur: its price is quite high (in Russia, depending on the manufacturer, it ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles per liter). You can quite try to make the famous drink with your own hands, in the kitchen. Of course, it will not be quite right, but it must certainly turn out delicious.

We take half a kilo of cherries, a bunch of cherry leaves, two liters of good vodka, a kilo of sugar, a liter of water. Leave the berries with pits and chop. We prepare the syrup by adding water, leaves and sugar to the mass (about 15 minutes over low heat). Filter, add vodka and a pinch of citric acid (or juice of one lemon). We insist in a dark place. In principle, in a few days homemade cherry liqueur will be ready. But it is better to let it settle for 2-3 months. Then strain again and bottle. That's all, now you can taste!