🥃 Luxardo Sangue Morlacco
Luxardo cherry liqueur made from marasca cherry juice, 30% ABV; the juice matures in oak vats.
Luxardo Sangue Morlacco is a cherry liqueur from the Luxardo house, with a strength of 30% ABV. Unlike the classic maraschino, it is made from marasca cherry juice rather than an infusion of leaves and stems. According to Difford's Guide, the name is attributed to the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, and the drink is thick and rich.
According to Hotaling & Co., the only ingredient is juice from Luxardo's own cherries. It is aged nine months in oak while it naturally ferments into a cherry wine; then spirit is added and it is sweetened. Difford's Guide gives a wider range, roughly nine to twenty-one months, so the duration depends on the source. A taster describes the flavour as rich, thick and sweet with a tart edge.
Why this matters to you. Sangue Morlacco is a juice-based cherry liqueur, while Maraschino Originale (32% ABV) is made by infusion and distillation, so the two should not be confused. Amaretto di Saschira has a different, almond profile and 24% ABV. Read the label and compare the strength. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | Luxardo brand — 1821 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787 (liqueurs) |
| EU category | 33 — liqueur |
| Raw material | juice of marasca cherries from Luxardo's own orchards, spirit, sweetener |
| Cask type | oak vats (the juice matures before fortification) |
| Minimum maturation | about 9 months in oak (Hotaling & Co.); Difford's Guide — 9–21 months |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 30% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Luxardo Sangue Morlacco → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Luxardo, 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira, 🥃 Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira, 🥃 Luxardo Maraschino Originale, 🥃 Luxardo Maraschino Originale
Frequently asked questions
Is Sangue Morlacco a cherry maraschino?
No. It is a separate cherry liqueur made from juice; Luxardo maraschino is made by infusing leaves and pits and then distilling.
What is the strength of Sangue Morlacco?
30% ABV, according to Difford's Guide and Hotaling & Co.
How long does it mature?
Hotaling & Co. gives nine months in oak; Difford's Guide gives nine to twenty-one months. The sources differ.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🥃 Luxardo Maraschino Originale — Base Luxardo line: maraschino made from marasca cherries, 32% ABV, bottle wrapped in straw.
Similar
🥃 Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira · 🥃 Luxardo Maraschino Originale · 🥃 Bénédictine Single Cask · 🥃 Bénédictine 1888 · 🥃 Bénédictine B&B · 🥃 Bénédictine D.O.M.
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Luxardo Cherry 'Sangue Morlacco' (30 % ABV, marasca juice, oak vats about 9-21 months, name attributed to d'Annunzio)
- Hotaling & Co.: Luxardo Sangue Morlacco (30 %, cherry juice from Luxardo's own cherries, nine months in oak, fortified and sweetened)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 33: liqueur
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)