There’s a story behind every great cocktail — and Luxardo’s has been unfolding for more than 200 years. Whether you’re shaking up a classic or pouring something new on a crisp fall night, these liqueurs bring flavors that can help make gatherings linger in memory well after the fire burns low.
A Family Legacy Becomes Part of an Autumnal Table
Founded in 1821 by Girolamo Luxardo in Zara (now Zadar, Croatia), the distillery first found fame with its maraschino cherry liqueur, using a recipe so refined it caught the attention of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Nearly destroyed during World War II, the Luxardo family reestablished their marasca cherry tradition in Veneto, Italy, partnering with local farmers who cultivate the cherries on their own land.
More than two centuries later, Luxardo is still family-owned, carrying tradition forward in every bottle. Classics like Maraschino Liqueur, Amaretto di Saschira, and Espresso Liqueur bring heritage to the glass, giving bartenders and home mixologists the flavors that give timeless appeal to cocktail recipes. Come fall, these bottles can play a major part in seasonal merriment. Whether it’s a round of Amaretto Sours before dinner, Espresso Martinis keeping the night alive, or Last Words served to spark conversation, Luxardo is one of the stars of the evening.
A Staple of Cocktail Culture
A staple of classic cocktail culture since the 19th century, Luxardo’s Maraschino Liqueur remains one of the essential building blocks of serious mixology. Its marasca cherry base defines drinks like the Aviation, the Hemingway Daiquiri, and the Last Word. What makes it endure is a production standard that’s never wavered — one rooted in a tradition of local farming partnerships that began when the Luxardo family reestablished their orchards in Veneto. Add to that a recipe refined across six generations, and you get a flavor profile professionals recognize instantly. Ask any bartender who takes classics seriously, and they’ll tell you — swap in a cheaper cherry liqueur and the drink loses its structure.
Its flavor blends the bright, slightly tart character of marasca cherries with soft floral and herbal undertones, plus a hint of almond-like bitterness from the cherry pits. It’s the kind of bottle that makes a simple drink feel elegant, layered, and seasonal — one that feels right at home in both classics and creative riffs.
The Cherries That Changed the Garnish Game
Luxardo’s Original Maraschino Cherries tell their own story. Dense, dark, and jewel-like, they’re worlds apart from the neon-red versions that used to adorn cocktails and top ice cream sundaes. Each jar of Luxardo’s is about half fruit and half syrup, with no preservatives, no thickeners, and a deep red color that comes entirely from the marasca cherry itself. That syrup is made from the same juice that is used to prepare Luxardo’s Cherry Liqueur Sangue Morlacco, giving the cherries their signature depth of flavor.
A careful candying process makes the fruit remarkably crisp — a texture bartenders and mixologists prize in the world’s best bars for their cocktail garnishes. The syrup in the jar doubles as a flavored sweetening ingredient for cocktails, while the cherries themselves can also shine atop desserts like ice cream and cheesecake. For fall entertaining, drop them in cocktails, drizzle the syrup into mulled wine, or spoon the fruit over desserts for a finish that makes people pause between bites.
Amaretto Sour: Autumn’s Comfort Cocktail
There’s something about the nutty richness of amaretto that feels like autumn. Luxardo’s Amaretto di Saschira stands apart from most — crafted using real cherry pits, which lend natural almond flavor and a whisper of bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. Shaken into an Amaretto Sour, it’s brightened with citrus and smoothed with sweetness — a cocktail as comforting as a knit sweater on a cool night. It’s the perfect drink to batch for a fall dinner party, or to sip slowly as the embers glow and conversation stretches past midnight.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Garnish: lemon zest
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, dry shake (without ice) all ingredients.
- Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
- Double strain into a rocks glass over ice.
- Garnish with lemon zest.
Espresso Martini: The Night Lives On
The Espresso Martini is still in a major moment, and Luxardo’s Espresso Liqueur makes this recipe a standout. Unlike many coffee liqueurs that rely on added flavoring, this one is made with real espresso — giving it authentic depth, clean roast character, and a velvety texture that elevates the drink. It demonstrates why the Espresso Martini is more than a passing trend as part of cocktail culture’s modern canon. It’s a drink that keeps the energy alive at late-night gatherings — ideal for a Halloween party buzzing with costumes and music, or having one with brunch on a crisp fall morning. It’s also the rare fall cocktail that doubles as a dessert-inspired serve and an elegant after-dinner choice. Bitter, sweet, and bracing all at once, Luxardo adds a unique richness to this recipe variation.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce freshly brewed espresso
- Garnish: 3 coffee beans
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, shake all ingredients with ice until cold and foamy.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with the coffee beans over the foam.
The Last Word: A Classic Revived
Some cocktails carry history in every sip. The Last Word — a Prohibition-era gem — is one of them, and it doesn’t exist without Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. Made from marasca cherries cultivated by the Luxardo family for generations, it delivers the kind of character that built — and still defines — the original maraschino. Herbal, tart, and complex, the Last Word is the drink you serve when you want to spark conversation and impress cocktail-savvy friends. For fall hosts, it’s the ultimate conversation piece: easy to shake, unmistakably bold, and the kind of cocktail that makes guests feel like they’ve stepped into a proper cocktail bar.
Ingredients:
- ¾ ounce Luxardo London Dry Gin
- ¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino Originale Liqueur
- ¾ ounce Luxardo Del Santo
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
- Garnish: Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherry
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with the Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherry.
A Story to Be Savored for Generations
From cozy autumn dinners to festive nights around the fire or on the fire escape, Luxardo brings more than flavor to the glass — their liqueurs and cherries bring the details that turn simple cocktails into seasonal rituals worth savoring. Two centuries on, that same family story is behind every bottle of Luxardo — a story to be savored for generations to come. And for those who know their way around a back bar, it’s a reminder that some bottles earn their place not through trend, but through time.
This article is sponsored by Luxardo USA.
