Collins Maraschino Cherries

Collins Maraschino Cherries are a cocktail garnish and mixer ingredient, sold as preserved cherries in syrup. They differ from fresh or brandied cherries. Maraschino-style cherries are usually bright red, firm, and sweet, with a mild almond-like cherry flavor. Expect a sugary, lightly fruity bite, not the dark, boozy depth of a Luxardo-style cherry. The sweetness suits drinks where the cherry is a finishing touch and not a main flavor. Serve them cold, straight from the refrigerator after opening, so the cherry keeps its snap against a room-temperature or iced drink. Lift one out with a spoon or cocktail pick and let the excess syrup drain before it goes in the glass. A clinging teaspoon of syrup can cloud a clear drink and push it sweeter than intended. The leftover syrup is not wasted. A bar spoon of it adds color and gentle sweetness to a Tom Collins, a Shirley Temple, or a whiskey sour, and it works as a stand-in for grenadine in a pinch. The classic home for these cherries is the Old Fashioned, where one or two on a pick finish the drink. They also belong in a Manhattan, a Whiskey Sour (the traditional "flag" garnish with an orange slice), a Tom Collins, a Singapore Sling, and a Pink Lady. Without alcohol, they top a Shirley Temple, a Roy Rogers, ginger ale, or cream soda floats. Outside the bar they suit vanilla ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, and baked goods such as pineapple upside-down cake and cherry-topped cupcakes. Match the glass to the drink. Use a rocks or double old-fashioned glass for an Old Fashioned or a sour served over ice, a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora for a Manhattan served up, and a tall highball or Collins glass for fizzy drinks. For a neat presentation, drop a single cherry into the bottom of a coupe before pouring so it sits at the base of the drink.