maraschino and kirsch

March 2, 2009 6:03 PM

Can I substitute kirsch for maraschino liqueur in cocktails?

We've been experimenting with David Wonderich's awesome Killer Cocktails, and were going to try one that calls for maraschino liqueur. (It apparently has nothing at all to do with those gross neon red cherries.) But all we could find was kirsch. Can we substitute? Should we add a bit of sugar syrup?

posted by kestrel251 to food & drink (7 comments total)

If you're talking about true maracscino liqueur and not the sugar water that the neon read cherries are packed in, the answer is Yes.
posted by webhund at 6:40 PM on March 2

I may be wrong, but I don't think kirsch will make a very good substitute. Kirsch is thin, sharp, eau de vie sort of thing whereas maraschino is a thick, sweet liqueur. Adding sugar syrup would help with the sweetness and body, but there's still a pretty huge flavor difference. Maraschino is kind of twiggy and earthy. It tastes more like the stem and pit of the cherry than the fruit. It's probably worth continuing your search for maraschino and save the kirsch for some killer traditional fondue.
posted by mostlymartha at 6:41 PM on March 2

Maraschino liqueur is thick and quite sweet and markedly cherry, although a tad earthy. Kirsch brandy is nothing like that. It's much thinner and more astringent. Basically, one is a cordial liqueur and the other is a liquor.

On the other hand, kirsch cordial, which is different from the kirsch brandy, may be a good substitute for maraschino, but I am personally unfamiliar with it.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:06 PM on March 2

Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought. Thanks, guys!
posted by kestrel251 at 7:09 PM on March 2

It's not directly to do with you question, but since you are generally interested in experimenting with cocktails, I thought I'd mention that maraschino liqueur is what they used to make maraschino cherries out of, before prohibition. If you can find some, it's very much worth buying some fresh sour cherries (the kind you use for pie), putting them in a mason jar and covering with maraschino liqueur. They keep for a long time, and make the awesomest Manhattans ever.
posted by carmen at 5:38 AM on March 3

Following on carmen's recommendation, I'll chime in to sing the praises of Luxardo maraschino cherries. I was doing some holiday shopping at Dean and Deluca in DC, and the woman there said they were the best thing in the store. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but they were pretty freaking good.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:56 AM on March 3

Just to add, I wondered the same thing. I tried it, and no.
posted by thejanna at 8:25 AM on March 3