A Full Range of Authentic Italian Liqueurs by the Makers of the Legendary Luxardo Maraschino
The Beginning of Maraschino
Luxardo is a family-owned company founded in Zara, a port city on the Dalmatian coast of what is now Croatia. Girolamo Luxardo, a Genovese businessman, and his wife, Maria Canevari, moved to Zara in 1817. It was Maria who began perfecting "rosolio maraschino," a liqueur produced in Dalmatian convents since medieval times from special maraschino cherries. Canevari's liqueur was of such high quality that it gained the attention of connoisseurs, and her husband founded the Luxardo Distillery in 1821 to produce her original Maraschino. Not long afterwards, the Emperor of Austria awarded the Luxardo liqueur the highest honor "Privilegiata Fabbrica Maraschino Excelsior." The distillery remained under the family's control and prospered by exporting the liqueur to aficionados around the world. The Maraschino liqueur became an essential cocktail ingredient internationally, and is found in classics such as the Last Word, Martinez and Hemingway cocktails of the late 19th and early 20th century. The distillery also expanded to create other fruit-based and herbal liqueurs such as Bitter, Limoncello and Amaro Abano.
Relocation to Italy
In 1913, Michelangelo Luxardo built the most modern and massive distillery in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This building survived World War I; but was ultimtely destroyed in World War II by Anglo-American bombings. Only one member of the fourth generation, Giorgio Luxardo, survived the World War II invasion and fled to Italy. Escaping with only a cherry sapling, Giorgio crossed the Adriatic Sea to the Veneto region of northeast Italy and reconnected with a colleague who had saved the Luxardo recipe book. Armed with the surviving tools and a desire to reestablish his family's legacy, Giorgio chose the small Veneto city of Torreglia to rebuild the distillery in 1946. At this new home, Luxardo restored its extensive product line of Italian liqueurs and continued to export the products to markets around the world. Luxardo continues to produce Maraschino to Maria Canevari's original recipe, as it was written down in 1821. Today, Luxardo is operated by Franco Luxardo of the family's fifth generation, along with members of the sixth.
Products:
Luxardo Maraschino
The Luxardo Maraschino follows the original recipe from 1821, and requires four years to produce. Cherries are harvested from Luxardo's own trees and the solid components are then infused in larchwood vats for three years. The product is distilled in small copper pot stills and aged in Finnish ash wood for the remaining year. Finally, a combination of sugar and water is added before bottling. 32% ABV
- ★★★★★ Highest Recommendation - F. Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal
- "An object of cult worship among mixologists. Its presence is as good as a sign saying EXCELLENT DRINKS MADE HERE" - David Wondrich, Esquire Magazine
Luxardo Cherry "Sangue Morlacco" Liqueur
This is the second product Luxardo created. Produced entirely from Luxardo cherry juice, it rests in oak for nine months to undergo a natural fermentation into a "cherry wine." It is then fortified, sweetened and bottled. Italian poet/patriot Gabriele d'Annunzio christened this liqueur "Sangue Morlacco" (Morlacco Blood) in honor of the Morlaccos, the fierce warriors of Dalmatia who fought for the Republic of Venice and defended their homeland against the Turks. 30% ABV
- 92 Points, Best Buy - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013
- 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherries
Luxardo Maraschino Cherries are proprietary sour marasca cherries that are candied and steeped in a syrup made of cherry juice and sugar. The Luxardo family exclusively cultivates over 30,000 Marasca Cherry trees in the Veneto region of Italy. This product is all natural, with no coloring agents added, and it is certified Kosher.
- The 25 Products We Can't Cook (or Live) Without - Bon Appetit Seal of Approval 2013
- Gold Medal - 2012 Bruxelles World Mond Selection
Luxardo Amaretto
A classic almond-flavored liqueur with a fragrant aroma and well-rounded taste, this amaretto is drier than others, with a hint of vanilla. It is produced from the pits of cherries, peaches and apricots. 28% ABV
- 91 Points - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013
- Double Gold Medal - New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2011
Luxardo Espresso Coffee Liqueur
A luscious coffee liqueur created with coffee beans produced in Brazil, Columbia, and Morocco, and roasted in Italy according to the Luxardo specifications. 27% ABV
- "Superb" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Luxardo Apricot Liqueur
One of the few apricot-based liqueurs in the world, Luxardo Apricot is an infusion of apricots aged in oak for three months before bottling. Apricot Luxardo first gained distinction winning the first prize in a competition for the most innovative new Italian liqueur, which was held in Rome in 1935. This is why the label states "Liquore della Lupa," with Lupa being the symbol of Rome. 30% ABV
- 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Luxardo Limoncello
First advertised in 1905, Luxardo Limoncello is an authentic Italian lemon liqueur that is extremely popular in Italy, either served straight up and chilled, or on the rocks with soda or tonic. Luxardo's time-honored production methods of infusing alcohol with peels, pulp and juice enhances the natural aroma and bright citrus taste of lemons harvested in southern Italy. 27% ABV
- ★★★★ Highly Recommended
"...in a word luscious; a superb, understated and classy limoncello."- F. Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal
- 93 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Luxardo Angioletto Hazelnut Liqueur
Luxardo Angioletto is a traditional Italian hazelnut liqueur. Hazelnuts are shelled, toasted and crushed, then infused in a solution of alcohol and water. A number of natural extracts, including cocoa and vanilla, are blended with the hazelnut infusion. 24% ABV
Luxardo Triplum
This is the Luxardo version of a triple sec. It is distilled from three types of citrus peels: mandarin, sweet oranges and bitter oranges with orange blossoms and then aged in Finnish ash wood. 39% ABV
- Double Gold Medal - New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2011
Luxardo Amaro Abano
The quintessential after-dinner codial, Amaro Abano originated in 1952. Amaro means "bitter," and Abano is an old Roman spa in the Veneto region that has been active for the last 200 years. The label depicts the spa around the year 1600. The herbs in this Amaro grow wild in the Euganean Hills and are infused along with cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel. Amaro Abano is a medium bitter, extremely popular in Italy, and especially in the Veneto, drunk straight after a meal with or without ice to help digestion. 30% ABV
- Double Gold Medal, Best Liqueur In Show - New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2012
- 93 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Luxardo Aperitivo
Named after the traditional Italian Aperitivo cocktail custom, Luxardo Aperitivo is a well-balanced infusion of citrus, gentian, rhubarb and other herbs. The mild alcohol content and bitter orange flavor make an ideal complement to fresh-squeezed juice or prosecco cocktails. 11% ABV
- Chairman's Trophy, 93 Points - Ultimate Spirits Challenge
- Double Gold Medal - Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America 2014
Luxardo Bitter
First made in 1885, this aperitif-style liqueur is made from an infusion of many refined herbs and spices such as mint, marjoram, thyme and bitter orange. Drink it before dinner to stimulate the appetite. Serve on the rocks or in the Venetian style with sparkling water. 25% ABV
- 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
- "Luxardo Bitter, on the other hand, offers an even more bracing bitter-forward taste than Campari...in the Negroni, Luxardo Bitter absolutely shined." - Jason Wilson, The Washington Post
Luxardo Sambuca dei Cesari
Sambuca is Italy's national anise-based liqueur, and Luxardo Sambuca is an exquisite and well-balanced example. Luxardo Sambuca is produced with the infusion of Chinese star anise. 38% ABV
- Double Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2011
- "Clear as rain water and impeccably pure; the prickliness of the spirit comes to the forefront in the second sniff — Luxardo Sambuca holds its own and gets recommended by the [Spirit Journal] by virtue of its true-to-the-source quality." - F. Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal
Luxardo Anisette
Since 1919, Luxardo has produced Anisette, a classic Italian anise-based liqueur. Luxardo Anisette is among the most popular drinks in the Mediterranean, and is obtained by the infusion of Chinese star anise and cocoa distillate. It's sweeter and lower in alcohol than other anise-flavored liqueurs. 27% ABV
Luxardo Fernet
A strong bitter amaro, Luxardo Fernet undergoes a prolonged infusion of 15 different herbs and spices such as licorice, cardamom, gentian and saffron. Luxardo has produced this Fernet since 1889, and it is typically enjoyed after a meal. 40% ABV
- "Fernet Luxardo, from the Veneto, gets downright aggressive with its herbal qualities and finishes with cleansing menthol and eucalyptus notes." - StarChefs.com
Luxardo Amarascata Sour Marasca Cherry Jam
The percentage of fruit used is extremely high in the Amarascata jam recipe, with as much as 170 grams of fresh fruit for every 100 grams of final jam. The percentage of added sugar is very low — less than 30%. No thickening agents of any type and no preservatives are used; the only ingredients are Luxardo Marasca cherries and sugar.
Luxardo Apry Apricot Jam
Apry uses 130 grams of apricots for every 100 grams of finished product. Apry is made according to an old recipe in traditional Italian confectionery style, and is not a typical jam that has been strained or sieved, as it retains the fibrous nature of apricot pulp while remaining easy to spread. No thickening agents, coloring or preservatives are used.
Luxardo Pruny Plum Jam
Pruny is an extra fine plum preserve with a very high percentage of fruit content with 110 grams of plums for every 100 grams of the finished product. Pruny is made with an ancient recipe from the Italian confectionery tradition, and the light fibrous character typical of plum pulp is beautifully preserved. No thickening agents, coloring or preservatives are used.
