Eastside Distilling Maraschino Cherry Whiskey landed on my desk at 30% ABV or 60 proof, carrying a $39.95, Portland, Oregon price tag. Here is what I found.
Nose
Deep red, amber. The golden hue of whiskey is softened by the cherry red. The legs are even and thick in the glass.
Palate
Extremely sweet, with some cherry tartness. I struggle to find any whiskey overtones. There are very mild wisps of wood, and hints of cereal grain. A cherry bomb to start, but despite this there is no syrup texture. It has a mild oily feel over the tongue and a smooth mouth feel. The whiskey shows up over the mid-palate with light honey and wood char, complementing the cherry liqueur nicely without directly competing. Overall, this hits with a lot of cherry and very subtle whiskey.
Finish
What fun! If you’re looking for a whiskey to drink straight, this is going to be very disappointing. However, if you want to make a robust Manhattan, a cherry whiskey sour, or even a Deshler, this will make an instant difference. The Luxardo liqueur is very powerful and the whiskey fades into the background but maintains excellent balance.rnrnI admit I tried this neat at room temperature, which I would not recommend. In fairness to its intended purpose though I made a Deshler, and it was incredible. I substituted 1oz rye whiskey for 1oz cherry whiskey, and it made an immediate positive impact. Ultimately this is a specialty beverage, and when used in cocktails you won’t be disappointed. I’d strongly recommend this to anyone looking to add flair to a standard cocktail or dress up a dessert.
The Bottom Line
Eastside Distilling Maraschino Cherry Whiskey delivers the goods. It is well-made, genuinely enjoyable, and at $39.95, Portland, Oregon represents solid value for what you are getting. I would happily buy this again.
