Spirits · Torreglia, Veneto

Luxardo

Six generations of maraschino and marasca cherries, from Zara to the Veneto.

Founded: 1821
Founded by: Girolamo Luxardo, Maria Canevari
Based in: Torreglia, Veneto

Their story

Luxardo is a family company now in its sixth generation, based in Torreglia in the hills south of Padua. The story starts with Girolamo Luxardo, a Ligurian who moved to Zara on the Dalmatian coast in 1817 as a diplomat. His wife, Maria Canevari, made maraschino cherry liqueur at home, and in 1821 he opened a distillery to make it commercially.

The business grew for more than a century in Zara, but World War II destroyed the distillery, and several family members were killed in 1944. Giorgio Luxardo restarted the company in Italy, reportedly carrying a marasca cherry sapling and the original recipe, and rebuilt it in Torreglia.

Today the family still runs the company, selling in about 70 countries.

How it's made

Everything starts with the sour marasca cherry. The family grows about 22,000 marasca trees and holds the rights to its own variety. The fruit goes into Maraschino liqueur and into the dark candied cherries sold in syrup, along with a wider line of liqueurs, amaro, grappa, syrups and jams.

Our featured pick

Maraschino Cherries (400G)

$25.00

The original maraschino cherry made from Italian marasca cherries; Ideal for use as a cocktail garnish or an ice cream sundaes.

Full product details

Shop Luxardo

3 in stock

Why we carry them

We stock Luxardo because no home bar is complete without it. The cherries make a Manhattan, and the Maraschino is a must for an Aviation or a Last Word.