Luxardo cherries, possibly the fanciest maraschino cherries you can buy, began with an upscale liquor called Rosolio Maraschino from Croatia, and was perfected by couple Girolamo Luxardo and his wife Maria Canevari before hitting the market in 1905. For years, this brand of alcohol-preserved cherries was only for the wealthy elite.

Luxardo cherries are a far cry from the typical American version, which consists of sweet cherries artificially colored to a bright red and dunked in a viscous, sugary solution. Luxardo cherries use no artificial colors, flavorings, or thickeners, producing beautiful dark-colored fruits covered in sticky, naturally sweet marasca cherry syrup.

Luxardo cherries are the garnish of choice for an Old Fashioned in many fancy bars, and like their cheaper cousins, they make a delicious ice cream topping or counterpoint to roasted meats. Luxardos cost about $20 for a 14-ounce jar, but blow other maraschino cherries out of the water and are simply the best money can buy.