The classic Old Fashioned cocktail is a timeless blend of bourbon, bitters, simple syrup, and cherries. While the recipe is simple, the ingredients play a crucial role in achieving the perfect balance of flavors. One key ingredient that often gets overlooked is the type of cherry used.
Why Luxardo Cherries are Essential for an Old Fashioned:
- Superior Quality: Luxardo cherries are made with Marasca cherries, a specific variety known for its rich flavor and intense aroma. These cherries are preserved in a special syrup, resulting in a complex sweetness that complements the bourbon’s boldness.
- Unmatched Flavor Profile: Unlike cheaper maraschino cherries, Luxardo cherries offer a nuanced flavor profile with hints of almond, vanilla, and spice. This depth of flavor adds another layer of complexity to the cocktail, creating a more harmonious and satisfying experience.
- Luxurious Texture: Luxardo cherries are plump and juicy, with a firm yet yielding texture. This allows them to release their flavor gradually as you sip your Old Fashioned, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
- Visual Appeal: Luxardo cherries are visually stunning, with a deep red color and a glossy sheen. They add a touch of elegance to the cocktail, making it even more enticing.
Alternatives to Luxardo Cherries:
While Luxardo cherries are the gold standard for Old Fashioneds, there are a few alternatives you can consider if they are unavailable or exceed your budget:
- Brandied cherries: These cherries are macerated in brandy, giving them a similar depth of flavor to Luxardo cherries. However, they may lack the unique almond and spice notes.
- Amarena cherries: These Italian cherries are preserved in a syrup with a slightly tart flavor. They can add a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cocktail, but their texture is softer than Luxardo cherries.
- Fresh cherries: If you have access to high-quality fresh cherries, you can use them as a garnish. However, they will not have the same intense flavor as preserved cherries.
Using Luxardo cherries in your Old Fashioned is an investment that pays off in terms of taste and experience. Their superior quality, unique flavor profile, and luxurious texture elevate this classic cocktail to a whole new level. If you’re serious about crafting the perfect Old Fashioned, don’t settle for anything less than the best.
Round One – Appearance
Luxardo – Small fruit. Glossy and dark. Very glossy actually. In the glass, the syrup has a more natural color and is thicker. Fruit itself actually looks very nice. 8.
Peninsula – Very deep and dark. Color is more purple than red. The thick syrup looks very rich and glossy. 8.
Morello: A smaller fruit with a somewhat ragged appearance that resembles a cherry pie filling. Color falls between the “classic” and high-end offering. 6.
Filthy Brand – Noticeable large, and battle-scarred cherry. Somewhat translucent and bright screamin’ red. Syrup is thin and neon looking. 5.
Amarena – Dark, rich, and glossy. The syrup has a very natural looking color. Stem lends to the natural aesthetic. 9.
Merry Maraschino – Slightly translucent fruit. Pale stem. Seems like a cross between a fancy option and a traditional maraschino Syrup is light and fairly thin. 6.
Our “Food Fight” lineup (in no particular order):
- Luxardo Maraschino Cherries
- Trader Joe’s Morello Cherries
- Peninsula Premium Cocktail Cherries
- Filthy brand cherries
- Trader Joe’s Amarena Cherries
- Merry Maraschino Cherries (Stonewall Kitchen)
Since we are a whiskey website, each cherry was placed into a Glencairn glass, as it was the only container that occurred to us that would be suitable for this.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
FAQ
What are the dark cherries in drinks called?
What are Luxardo cherries soaked in?
Why are Luxardo cherries so expensive?
Are Luxardo and Amarena cherries the same?
Which Cherry is best for an old fashioned?
Bing cherries are another good option for an Old Fashioned. They are sweet and tart, with a strong cherry flavor. They are easy to find in most grocery stores, and they are a good option if you want a more traditional-tasting cherry for your drink. Which cherry is the best for an Old Fashioned? That depends on your taste.
What is the serving size of cherries?
You can eat the portion you want of cherries. However, one compote per day is fine. Excess cherry can result in excess blood sugar and can also cause gastrointestinal upset.
Where can I buy old fashioned cherries?
They can be found online or in specialty stores. Bing cherries are another good option for an Old Fashioned. They are sweet and tart, with a strong cherry flavor. They are easy to find in most grocery stores, and they are a good option if you want a more traditional-tasting cherry for your drink.
Does a cherry belong in an old fashioned?
There are a few reasons why people might think that a cherry does not belong in an old fashioned. One reason is that the old fashioned is a whiskey drink. Many people believe that whiskey should not be mixed with other flavors, such as fruit. Another reason is that the cherry is not a traditional ingredient in an old fashioned.