Cherry Liqueur Guide: Types, Best Brands and How to Use It

Walk into a decent drinks shop and you will find four bottles that all claim to taste of cherries: a ruby-red liqueur, a clear kirsch, a pale maraschino and something labelled cherry brandy. They are not interchangeable, and swapping one for another is a reliable way to ruin a Singapore Sling.

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This guide sorts out the differences. You will find what cherry liqueur actually is, how it compares with kirsch, maraschino and cherry brandy, which bottles are worth buying in the US and the UK, and what to make with them. There is also a homemade recipe, a list of substitutes for when the shop is closed, and some ideas for the baking tin as well as the cocktail shaker.

If you only need a quick definition, the cherry liqueur entry in our cocktail database has one. Everything below goes deeper.

What Is Cherry Liqueur?

Cherry liqueur is a sweetened spirit flavoured with cherries. Most bottles sit between 24% and 32% ABV, and the flavour runs from spiced cherry jam to dark chocolate-covered cherries, often with a nutty almond edge.

That almond note comes from the pits. Makers such as Heering crush whole cherries, pits included, and steep them in neutral spirit with sugar and spices, which pulls a bitter-almond character into the finished liqueur.

Colour varies more than you might expect. Heering and most cherry brandies are a deep ruby red, while maraschino is as clear as water.

Cherry Liqueur vs Cherry Brandy

These two names are used interchangeably on shelves, and that causes most of the confusion. In practice, most bottles labelled cherry brandy are sweet cherry liqueurs. Bols Cherry Brandy, for example, is 24% ABV, the same strength as Cherry Heering.

A few bottles do use real grape brandy as the base. Ableforth’s Cherry Brandy is made with cognac and comes in a little stronger, at 27.8% ABV.

When a recipe says cherry brandy, it usually means a sweet cherry liqueur. Check the label for the word liqueur, and for real cherries in the ingredients, if flavour matters to you.

Kirsch (Kirschwasser)

Kirsch is the odd one out. It is a clear, unsweetened spirit distilled from fermented cherries, traditionally the dark, sour morello type, and it is usually bottled at 37% to 43% ABV. It is dry and slightly bitter, which is why it is not a liqueur at all.

Use kirsch where a recipe wants cherry flavour without sweetness. Black Forest gateau is the classic example. If you swap it into a cocktail that calls for cherry liqueur, add a little sugar syrup to make up the difference.

Maraschino Liqueur

Maraschino liqueur is made from marasca cherries, a small, dark and very sour variety. The result is clear rather than red, lightly sweet and dry, with cherry, almond and a bitter edge. Luxardo has made it since 1821, and its bottle at 32% ABV is still the benchmark.

A little goes a long way. Maraschino turns up in classics such as the Aviation and the Last Word, where a small measure adds depth rather than colour. Do not confuse it with the bright red cocktail cherries sold in jars, which are a different product.

Cherry Schnapps

Schnapps is where the labels split by country. In the US, cherry schnapps usually means a sweetened, flavoured spirit at a lower strength, which puts it close to a liqueur. In Germany, Schnaps traditionally means a clear, dry fruit spirit, which puts it in the same family as kirsch.

Cherry Liqueur Styles at a Glance

Style	Example bottle	Colour	Flavour	Typical ABV
Sweet cherry liqueur	Cherry Heering	Deep ruby red	Sweet, spiced cherry jam	24%
Cherry brandy (liqueur style)	Bols Cherry Brandy	Red	Sweet	24%
Maraschino liqueur	Luxardo Maraschino	Clear	Lightly sweet, dry, almond	32%
Kirsch	Various German and Swiss makers	Clear	Dry, unsweetened	37% to 43%

Which Cherry Liqueur Should You Buy?

There is no single best bottle, because each style does a different job. Start with the drink you want to make and buy the bottle that suits it. If you have room for two, a sweet red liqueur and a maraschino cover most of the classic cherry cocktails.

Cherry Heering

Cherry Heering is the bottle bartenders mean when they say cherry liqueur. It has been made in Copenhagen since 1818 from crushed Stevens cherries, sugar and spices, and it is bottled at 24% ABV. It is thick, sweet and deeply cherry, closer to black cherry jam than to a boiled sweet.

Heering is markedly sweeter than both maraschino and most cherry brandies, so it is the one to buy for the Singapore Sling and the Blood and Sand. It also works neat over ice, or poured over vanilla ice cream.

Luxardo Maraschino Originale

Luxardo Maraschino is the standard maraschino liqueur. It is clear, 32% ABV and made from marasca cherries, with a dry, almond-leaning flavour that has little in common with Heering. Buy it for drinks that call for maraschino by name, and do not expect it to colour a cocktail red.

Luxardo Sangue Morlacco

Luxardo also makes a darker cherry liqueur called Sangue Morlacco, made from an infusion of marasca cherries and bottled at 30% ABV. It is a good choice if you want a richer, more serious cherry liqueur for sipping or for stirred drinks. It is usually pricier than Heering.

Bols Cherry Brandy

Bols Cherry Brandy is the easy-to-find, budget-friendly option at 24% ABV. It is a sweet cherry liqueur in all but name, and it does the job in fizzes, slings and punches. It is a sensible first bottle if you are not sure how much you will use.

Craft and Local Bottles

If you like to try something different, a few smaller producers are worth a look. Tattersall Sour Cherry Liqueur is a tart American craft bottle, and Berentzen Wild Cherry is a lighter, fresher German liqueur that works well over ice.

In the UK, Hedgerow Cherry Brandy Liqueur from North Yorkshire (22% ABV) and the cognac-based Ableforth’s are both good alternatives to the big names. Whatever you choose, read the label. Some budget bottles rely on artificial flavour and colour, and a bottle made with real cherries tastes noticeably better.

Cherries Preserved in Liqueur

Plenty of people searching for cherry liqueur are really after the cherries. Griottines are the best-known example: French morello cherries preserved in kirsch, sold in jars and eaten with ice cream, cheese or a spoon. Luxardo-style cocktail cherries are a different product, packed in a thick syrup for garnishing.

Despite the name, few jars sold as brandied cherries are actually preserved in brandy, so read the label if you want the real thing. The cherries left over after you strain homemade liqueur are a pleasant by-product too, and they are good spooned over ice cream.

What to Mix with Cherry Liqueur

Cherry liqueur is sweet and fruity, so it pairs best with ingredients that add sharpness, bitterness or dryness. Gin is the most natural partner, and our list of gin cocktails has plenty of drinks that welcome a splash of cherry. Scotch and bourbon work well too, and the best whiskey cocktails are a good place to start if you want a cherry riff on a classic.

For a simple long drink, top a measure of cherry liqueur with soda water and a squeeze of lime. Add it to a gin and tonic for a pink, slightly sweeter version, or pour a little into ginger beer, apple juice or fresh orange juice. A small measure also lifts a cup of hot coffee.

Cherry liqueur also suits sparkling wine. A spoonful in the bottom of a flute, topped with champagne or prosecco, makes a quick Kir-style aperitif, and our easy champagne cocktails show how many ways there are to dress up a bottle of fizz. For a party, stir a generous splash into a jug of red wine sangria with sliced oranges, as in these summer sangria recipes.

Four Cherry Liqueur Cocktails to Make First

These four show off the range, from a classic whisky drink to a creamy dessert cocktail. A good cocktail shaker makes all of them easier. Each recipe makes one drink, with US ounces and millilitres side by side.

Blood and Sand

Named after a 1922 film about a bullfighter, this is the classic Cherry Heering cocktail. It uses equal parts of four ingredients, which makes it easy to remember and easy to scale up.

3/4 oz (22 ml) Scotch whisky
3/4 oz (22 ml) Cherry Heering
3/4 oz (22 ml) sweet vermouth
3/4 oz (22 ml) fresh orange juice

Shake everything with ice for 10 to 15 seconds and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a strip of orange peel.

Singapore Sling

The Singapore Sling was created in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel, Singapore. This is the Raffles-style version, which is lighter on the cherry liqueur than many modern bar recipes.

1 oz (30 ml) gin
1/2 oz (15 ml) Cherry Heering
1/4 oz (7.5 ml) Cointreau
1/4 oz (7.5 ml) Bénédictine
4 oz (120 ml) pineapple juice
1/2 oz (15 ml) lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry. Many bars add a splash of grenadine and a dash of Angostura bitters, and some top the drink with soda water.

Cherry Gin Fizz

This is a quick, refreshing way to use up the last of a bottle. It follows the same structure as a classic gin fizz, with cherry liqueur taking the place of the sugar.

2 oz (50 ml) gin
3/4 oz (20 ml) fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz (20 ml) cherry liqueur
Soda water, to top

Shake the gin, lemon juice and cherry liqueur with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a cherry and a lemon wheel.

Black Forest Cocktail

This is a dessert in a glass, built from the flavours of Black Forest gateau. Both cherry liqueur and kirsch go in, which gives it sweetness and a dry cherry kick.

1 oz (30 ml) crème de cacao
1 oz (30 ml) cherry liqueur
1/2 oz (15 ml) kirsch
1 oz (30 ml) heavy cream (double cream in the UK)

Shake with ice until well chilled and strain into a coupe. Float a little extra cream on top and finish with a cherry.

What Can You Use Instead of Cherry Liqueur?

The right substitute depends on what the recipe needs from the cherry liqueur. Is it sweetness, colour, or that almond edge? The options below are ordered from closest match to furthest.

Another cherry liqueur or cherry brandy. Swap one for one. Bottles differ in sweetness, so taste the drink and adjust. Heering is the sweetest of the common bottles.

Maraschino liqueur. This also swaps one for one in most cocktails, but it is drier and more almond-forward. Expect a paler drink and add a touch of sugar syrup if it tastes sharp.

Kirsch plus sugar syrup. Kirsch has the cherry flavour but none of the sweetness, so add sugar syrup a little at a time until the drink is balanced. This is a good option for baking and sauces.

Cherry syrup or tart cherry juice. These work for non-alcoholic drinks, and for sauces where you only want the fruit. For more ideas on getting cherry flavour without the real fruit, see our guide to cherry substitutes.

Tawny port. In cooking, a splash of tawny port gives a similar sweet, fruity depth to a cherry sauce.

Cooking and Baking with Cherry Liqueur

Cherry liqueur is not only for the cocktail cabinet. A tablespoon stirred into a warm cherry sauce or poured over vanilla ice cream adds a deeper cherry flavour than the fruit alone.

It works especially well with chocolate. Brush a little over the layers of a chocolate sponge, or fold a spoonful into the batter of these chocolate cherry brownies for a grown-up version. It also makes a good addition to the warm cherry sauce for a cream cheese spread.

Because alcohol cooks off unevenly, treat bakes made with liqueur as adult food and label them clearly if you are serving a crowd.

How to Make Homemade Cherry Liqueur

Homemade cherry liqueur is easy and makes a lovely gift. This version is quicker than most, ready in around two weeks, and it uses a mix of brandy and vodka for a rounder flavour. Fresh or frozen pitted cherries both work, but thaw frozen ones first.

Equipment: a large sealable jar (about 1.5 litres or 1.5 quarts), a muddler or potato masher, a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth and a clean bottle.

Ingredients

6 cups (about 900 g) pitted sweet dark cherries, such as Bing
1 cup (240 ml) brandy
1/2 cup (120 ml) vodka
1 cup (240 ml) water
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick, broken (optional)

Method

Gently muddle the cherries in a bowl until they are broken down but not puréed. Pour off the juice that collects into a small container, cover it and keep it in the fridge.
Tip the mashed cherries into the jar and add the brandy, vodka and cinnamon. Seal, shake and leave at room temperature away from direct sunlight for one week, shaking every few days.
After a week, simmer the reserved cherry juice with the water and sugar in a small pan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let the syrup cool completely.
Add the cooled syrup to the jar, seal and shake well. Leave for another 2 to 5 days, tasting as you go. A longer rest gives a deeper flavour.
Strain the liqueur through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Let it drip rather than squeezing the cloth, which keeps the liqueur clearer.
Label the bottle and store it in the fridge. It is best within three months.

A Slower Vodka Version

If you prefer a simpler method and have more patience, combine 1.5 lb (680 g) pitted cherries, 1 1/4 cups (250 g) sugar and a 750 ml bottle of vodka in a large jar. Shake until the sugar starts to dissolve, then leave it in a cool, dark place for 8 to 12 weeks, shaking now and then. Strain and bottle as above.

Please drink responsibly. Homemade liqueur is as strong as it tastes, and it is for adults of legal drinking age only.

How to Store and Serve Cherry Liqueur

Store unopened bottles upright in a cool, dark cupboard. Once opened, keep the cap on tight and the bottle away from heat and sunlight, since flavour and colour fade slowly over time. Homemade liqueur belongs in the fridge.

Cherry liqueur is lovely served neat at room temperature, or chilled with a square of dark chocolate on the side. Over ice with a twist of orange peel is another easy way to enjoy it. Maraschino and kirsch are better in small measures, mixed into drinks.

Cherry Liqueur FAQs

Is cherry liqueur the same as cherry brandy?

Mostly, yes. Most bottles sold as cherry brandy are sweet cherry liqueurs, usually around 24% ABV. A few, such as Ableforth’s, use real grape brandy as the base.

What is the difference between cherry liqueur and kirsch?

Cherry liqueur is sweet and usually red, bottled at around 24% to 32% ABV. Kirsch is a clear, unsweetened spirit distilled from cherries, normally 37% to 43% ABV.

Is maraschino liqueur a cherry liqueur?

Yes, it is a clear, dry style of cherry liqueur made from marasca cherries. It tastes of cherry and almond rather than cherry jam, so it is not a direct swap for Cherry Heering.

How strong is cherry liqueur?

Most bottles fall between 24% and 32% ABV. Cherry Heering and Bols Cherry Brandy are 24%, Luxardo Sangue Morlacco is 30%, and Luxardo Maraschino is 32%.

Does cherry liqueur go off?

Commercial cherry liqueur keeps well thanks to its sugar and alcohol content, though the flavour and colour fade slowly once the bottle is open. Keep it sealed in a cool, dark place. Homemade liqueur should go in the fridge and be used within three months.

Is cherry liqueur the same as cherry liquor or cherry-flavoured alcohol?

Cherry liquor is simply another name people use for cherry liqueur. Cherry-flavoured alcohol is a broader term that can also mean a flavoured vodka or a schnapps, so check the label for the word liqueur and the ABV.

What can I use instead of cherry liqueur?

Another cherry liqueur or cherry brandy is the closest swap. Maraschino liqueur works with a touch more sugar, and kirsch works with sugar syrup added. For a non-alcoholic option, use cherry syrup or tart cherry juice.

The Short Version

Cherry liqueur is a sweet, cherry-flavoured spirit, usually bottled between 24% and 32% ABV. Buy a sweet red bottle such as Cherry Heering for Singapore Slings and Blood and Sand, and add a maraschino when a recipe names it. Kirsch is dry and unsweetened, so it needs sugar when it stands in for a liqueur.

Start with one bottle and one cocktail from the list above. The homemade recipe is a gentle first project too, and a jar of ruby-red liqueur on the counter makes a good conversation starter.

Continue Reading

Prosecco Cocktails: twelve fizzy ideas that pair well with a splash of cherry liqueur.
Vodka Cocktails: easy drinks for the vodka you may already have in the cupboard.
Iced Cherry Bakewell: a classic British bake that sits well with cherry and almond.
Brie and Dark Cherry Bites: quick party food with a cherry kick.

Do you keep a bottle of cherry liqueur at home, and what do you use it for? Tell me in the comments.