Luxardo in Westford: maraschino, cherries and more

CBC Liquors in Westford carries Luxardo: the maraschino liqueur, the cherries, a limoncello and a bianco spritz are all on the Luxardo brand page. Here is what each bottle and jar is, how it gets used, and how to pick it up.

What Luxardo products does CBC Liquors carry?

Four Luxardo items are in stock at the moment: Luxardo Maraschino Liquer, Luxardo Cherries Jar, Luxardo Limoncello and Luxardo Bianco Spritz.

That covers the two things most people come looking for, the liqueur and the cherries, plus two that are easy to overlook if you only know the brand from cocktail recipes.

Stock changes, so the brand page is the quickest way to see what is on the shelf today before you drive over.

What is Luxardo maraschino liqueur?

Maraschino liqueur is a clear, lightly sweet spirit made from marasca cherries. In general, the style is distilled from the fruit, including the pits and stems, and then sweetened. It does not taste like a bright red candy cherry. Expect a dry, nutty, floral note with a gentle sweetness.

Luxardo is the name many bartenders reach for when a recipe just says maraschino liqueur. It sits in the liqueur part of the shop, and you can find the bottle on its own page: Luxardo Maraschino Liquer.

Which cocktails call for maraschino liqueur?

A small pour goes a long way, so one bottle lasts through a lot of drinks. Classic recipes that use it include the Aviation, the Last Word, the Hemingway daiquiri and the Martinez. It also shows up in many variations on the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned.

If you are building these at home, you will want the base spirit too. The Aviation is made with gin, the Hemingway daiquiri with rum, and a Manhattan with rye or bourbon. Lime and lemon juice are on you, but mixers are here for the rest.

As a rule, measure maraschino carefully. A quarter ounce too much can flatten a drink.

What are Luxardo cherries and how are they used?

These are dark, firm cherries packed in syrup, a different thing from the bright red cocktail cherries many people grew up with. The flavor is deeper and more tart, and the syrup is thick and dark.

They are the usual garnish for a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, and they work in a glass of sparkling wine or spooned over ice cream. The syrup can go into a drink in place of a little simple syrup.

Once opened, keep the jar in the refrigerator, with the cherries covered by syrup. You can find the jar here: Luxardo Cherries Jar.

What is Luxardo limoncello?

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur, traditionally made by steeping lemon peel in spirit and then sweetening it. It is usually served well chilled, often from the freezer, in small glasses after a meal.

It also mixes. A splash in sparkling wine or over soda makes a simple long drink, and it can lift a lemon-forward cocktail. Pick up Luxardo Limoncello if you want a bottle for the table rather than the cocktail shaker.

What is the Luxardo Bianco Spritz?

Luxardo Bianco Spritz is a ready-to-serve aperitivo style drink. A spritz in general is a light, bitter-leaning, bubbly drink meant for before dinner, served over ice with a slice of citrus.

If you like the idea of a spritz without assembling one, it is worth a look. Other bottled options sit in the ready-to-drink section, and sparkling wine is there if you want to make your own.

Can you pick up or get Luxardo delivered?

You can walk in to CBC Liquors at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford. We are open Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM. Pickup runs the same hours.

We also offer delivery and shipping. Delivery hours are Sunday 10 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 9:30 PM. We serve nearby towns including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton and Lowell. The full list is on the delivery areas page.

If you are after a bottle that is hard to find, our allocated items page is the place to look, and you can ask in the shop.