Luxardo Maraschino (400g) & Woodford Reserve (383g) Bourbon Gourmet Cherries

I would call these the yin and the yang of cherries. The Luxardo I use for my own use and my favorite friends. The Woodford Reserve are a good bang for the buck. I use them for my parties and not special occasions. Both are tastey. Of the two - I like Luxardo better, but I am not going to toss out the Woodford!

Luxardo cherries are arguably the best cocktail cherries on the market. Finding them can be difficult, which is how I ended up looking on Amazon. When I saw this special pairing with the Woodford Reserve cherries, I figured I'd at least give it a whirl for novelty's sake. I can't say I was in any way disappointed. The Woodford Reserve cherries are a bit larger than the Luxardo and also still have the stems intact. I would say the syrup is also a little thinner than Luxardo. The Woodford Reserve cherries are very similar in taste, maybe not quite as sweet with a little more of a smokey taste. And again, the Luxardo cherries speak for themselves. If you are still using bright red maraschino cherries in your cocktails, you're really selling yourself short! I'd highly recommend trying both of these with your next bourbon based cocktail.

The cherries are great in champagne and Burbon drinks. The cherry taste is flavorful and the Luxardo cherries are nice and chewy

These are going in Old Fashions. The Luxardo is the classic maraschino cherry. If you like that heavy syrup taste - knock yourself out - these are for you. Personally, those have been relegated to Shirley Temples, in my house. If you want something that's just awesomely delicious in an adult mixed drink - stick with the Woodfords.

Luxardo is a whole different type of cherry. Dark and sensuous, meant for serious cocktail preparation. Our first use was in a Manhattan. We have not yet sampled the Woodford entry**, but the Lux is light years beyond the standard ice cream "cherry on top". So far, we used it whole. Next...muddling for an Old Fashioned. ***Addendum: After some use, the Luxardo is a bit too sweet for our tastes. While very flavorful, it can be overpowering if you like your Manhattans on the dry side. The Woodfords were just right. We will stick with them for now.

Bought these 2 together as a combo pack if you will. The Woodford Cherries are just ok...stems attached, barely can taste any bourbon. In my opinion, just not that high end of a product. On the other hand...the Luxardo are the cherries that all high end cocktails should have. They have no stems, do not glow in the dark, come in a nice syrup, and have a great sweet cheery taste.

If you think 'maraschino cherries' are those pale things packed in embalming fluid sold in your grocery store, think again. Luxardo maraska cherries are the real deal. Try them and you'll never go back. Two of these in as garnish in a Manhattan or Martinez.. Two because my bride gets one! And if you can find it, try their Amarascata cherry jam. 170 grams of maraska cherries made into 100 grams of the best cherry jam in the world. Too bad no one sells it on Amazon! The Woodford Reserve cherries are also spectacular, in a different way. Different base cherry. Lighter syrup. And, of course, the addition of Woodford Reserve. Better than luxardo? No - just as good, but different.

I was actually trying to decide which one to buy as a gift, since I like them both, and here they were offered together as a two-for package! Love them both, but still expensive. Need to ration, or they would be gone in a hurry!