Maraska is a Croatian company best known for its

maraschino Maraschino ( , ) is a liqueur obtained from the distillation of Marasca cherries. The small, slightly sour fruit of the Marasca cherry tree ( ''Prunus cerasus'' var. ''marasca''), which grows wild along parts of the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, ...

, a

liqueur A liqueur ( , ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of Liquor, spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-age ...

obtained from the distillation of Marasca cherries.

History

In 1759, Francesco Drioli, a Venetian merchant, began industrial-scale production of maraschino in

Zadar Zadar ( , ), historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian, ; see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

, which was then part of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

. As the reputation of Maraschino grew, so did that of Zadar, which prompted other factories to emerge and become established, particularly those of

Girolamo Luxardo Girolamo Luxardo S.p.A. is an Italian liqueur factory. Founded in Zadar, it moved to Torreglia near Padua after 1945. The company's current products include a variety of liqueurs and similar products (''Maraschino'', ''Sangue Morlacco'', ''Sambu ...

(1821) and

Romano Vlahov Romano may refer to: Food * Pecorino Romano, a hard, salty Italian cheese * Romano cheese, an American English and Canadian English term for a class of cheeses Places Italy Municipalities in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Latium * Arcinazzo Ro ...

(1861). Together they formed (the maraschino industry of Zadar). After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the historic factories, including all usable equipment, were nationalized and unified into a single enterprise which eventually gave rise to a new factory called Maraska, located in the former Luxardo premises. In 2022 the company was acquired by Stanić Group.

References

Food and drink companies of Croatia Croatian brands Economy of Zadar {{Drink-company-stub