Luxardo is a name that needs little introduction in the drinks trade. The Italian family firm has been synonymous with maraschino liqueur for the better part of two centuries, and their cherry expertise is arguably unrivalled in the global spirits business. So when Luxardo turns its hand to gin — specifically a sour cherry expression — you sit up and pay attention. This is a house that understands fruit maceration at a molecular level.
A Cherry Play in a Crowded Field
Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin arrives at a moment when flavoured gins are facing increasing scrutiny from both consumers and bartenders. The novelty phase is well and truly over; what remains has to earn its place on merit. At 37.5% ABV, this sits at the minimum threshold for gin classification, which tells you something about the intent here — this is a gin designed for accessibility and mixability rather than juniper-forward purists.
What Luxardo brings to the table is provenance. Where countless flavoured gins bolt on artificial fruit notes as an afterthought, the Luxardo name carries genuine credibility in the cherry space. The sour cherry angle is a shrewd move too, offering tartness and complexity rather than the cloying sweetness that has plagued lesser fruit gins.
At £32.25, the pricing is competitive without being aggressive — pitched squarely at the mid-market where brand recognition matters. I would have liked to see this bottled at a higher strength to give it more backbone in cocktails, which keeps it at a 7.4 out of 10 for me. The pedigree is there, but a touch more conviction in the ABV would elevate it considerably.
Best served: In a Sour Cherry Collins with fresh lemon, simple syrup and soda — a straightforward build that lets the cherry character work. Bartenders will also find it earns its keep in a Clover Club riff, replacing the raspberry.
