Cherry Heering

[Chapel Tavern]

My distributers here in northern Nevada are telling me that Heering has stopped importing to the US. Has anyone else had this problem? I find it hard to believe being that Cherry Heering seems to be a pretty popular ingredient on many cocktail lists, including my own.

[Chris Amirault]

Hrm. I'll ask around here.

[slkinsey]

Heering did stop distributing to the US for a while, but that was so they could change bottle designs (the old bottle looked like this and the new bottle looks like this). That was a while ago, however.

Edited September 16, 2008 by slkinsey (log)

[Chapel Tavern]

Heering did stop distributing to the US for a while, but that was so they could change bottle designs (the old bottle looked like this and the new bottle looks like this).  That was a while ago, however.

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The last case we had were the new bottles so its been since the change over that they are saying distribution has stopped. No one outside of Nevada having problems?

[brinza]

Pennsylvania hasn't de-listed it, but they no longer stock it in their retail stores--it's only available through their online service for which they have over 160 bottles in inventory. It'll probably be a while before they realize they can't get it any more. But I'm sure they'll jump at the chance to use that warehouse and shelf space for more vodka.

Here's a question. Is Heering a cherry brandy or a liqueur? When a recipe calls for "cherry brandy" I never know if I should use this or something more like kirsch, a critical detail since the two are worlds apart. I know that it's called a liqueur on its own label, but several cocktail writers have stated that Heering is a good choice for when "cherry brandy" is called for, but I'm never quite sure.

[mkayahara]

The way I understand it, Cherry Heering is a liqueur. The term "cherry brandy" sometimes means a dry eau de vie like Kirsch and sometimes means a sweet liqueur, depending on who's talking and when. The same problem exists with apricot brandy, only worse because Kirsch is a much more widely known term than Marillenbrand. In some cases, like the Singapore Sling, the debate still exists as to whether kirsch or cherry liqueur is intended. Sometimes you end up having to try both and deciding which you like better!

[slkinsey]

In most recipes (much as is the case with "apricot brandy") they are asking for a cherry-flavored, sweetened brandy such as Cherry Heering. This is especially true of cherry brandy, in consideration of the fact that "kirschwasser" has been a commonly-used term one would use to describe cherry eau de vie for a long time.

[eas]

The Cherry Heering brand was sold a year or two ago from the Absolut Spirits Co (then V&S, now part of Pernod) to Kindred Spirits of Miami FL. The same company also handles import of Martin Millers Gin, which they picked up from Skyy Spirits last year as well. They are a nice group of people doing some fine work. So while asking for your Heering you should also try pulling for some Westbourne Strength Millers.

[Intellidepth]

I can't get it here where I live in Australia and am newly requiring it in my Raffles Singapore Slings, which I've become partial to after a recent visit to that famous location.

Could someone please clarify if the Cherry Heering flavour includes the 'bitter almond' overtone evident in some cherry brandies?

[brinza]

I can't get it here where I live in Australia and am newly requiring it in my Raffles Singapore Slings, which I've become partial to after a recent visit to that famous location.

Could someone please clarify if the Cherry Heering flavour includes the 'bitter almond' overtone evident in some cherry brandies?

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Not IMO. I liken it more to Chambord (albeit cherry rather than raspberry) than to dry cherry brandies. In fact, for just about any cocktail calling for framboise liqueur, you could use Heering as a variation and it should work just as well. It's very deep, dark, and rich. The reverse should also work. If you can't get Heering or Cherry Marnier, and were to use Chambord instead in the Singapore Sling, I bet it would do it no harm at all.

Here's a good discussion of the Singapore Sling recipe:

http://www.tedhaigh.com/Sling.pdf

Edited October 3, 2008 by brinza (log)

[TAPrice]

My local liquor store, which always had Cherry Heering on the shelf before, says the distributor has been out for over a month.

Are we sure it's still distributed in the US? And if not, what would work as a substitute?

[Alcuin]

Since first reading this post, I've gone around asking about Heering and what I've found isn't promising (at least in SE WI). The most definitive word I've gotten is that Cherry Heering not only hasn't been available but is even off the list of available products.

I'd be interested in what people say as a good sub, because I've never tasted any thing like it. I've never seen Cherry Marnier around. Isn't there a Luxardo product that is similar (or did I just imagine it)? In any case, I've never seen that around here either.

My response has been to try to stock up.

[jmfangio]

Isn't there a Luxardo product that is similar (or did I just imagine it)? In any case, I've never seen that around here either.

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Yes, it's called Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, and there's a short thread on it here.

If you've ever had the Luxardo cherries in syrup, it tastes like the boozy version of those. I don't have enough experience with Cherry Heering, though, to make a direct comparison.

[Didge]

I can't get it here where I live in Australia and am newly requiring it in my Raffles Singapore Slings, which I've become partial to after a recent visit to that famous location.

Could someone please clarify if the Cherry Heering flavour includes the 'bitter almond' overtone evident in some cherry brandies?

←

Nicks in Melbourne stock Cherry Heering - https://www.nicks.com.au/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=474717

[Alcuin]

Isn't there a Luxardo product that is similar (or did I just imagine it)? In any case, I've never seen that around here either.

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Yes, it's called Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, and there's a short thread on it here.

If you've ever had the Luxardo cherries in syrup, it tastes like the boozy version of those. I don't have enough experience with Cherry Heering, though, to make a direct comparison.

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A boozy version of Luxardo cherries would indeed be good (or any other version of them for that matter). Every time I spoon one out, I always take some syrup with it for a pre-drink treat. I could see that working as a replacement.

[Wild Bill Turkey]

My local Bevmo has a whole shelf of the stuff, but the Bevmo website says no such product exists. I bought an extra bottle just in case. I'm planning on ordering some Cherry Marnier from England next month since you can't get it here.

[Keith Orr]

Cherry Heering is available here in Oregon. $24.95 per bottle. It's shown on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission Monthly Sheets.

If you're in NE Portland, the Rose City Liquor Store has it on the shelf.

Picked up a bottle today. Singapore Slings tonight!

[TAPrice]

I'm not sure what the issue is, but I'm pretty sure that it's still produced and distributed in the US. The brand has an up-to-date website full of really hot models and info about 2008 promotions. I've contacted the US distributor, and he hasn't indicated that there is a disruption or problem.

Edit: As Sam notes below, it's not "produced" here. Not sure why I wrote that.

Edited November 13, 2008 by TAPrice (log)

[Wild Bill Turkey]

I knew it.

This whole thing has been a hoax to get a few of us to stock up on Cherry Heering. I guess you'll all be collecting your enormous kickback checks and partying it up at Raffles in Singapore while I'm stuck here trying to talk all my friends into trying Cherry Juleps.

[slkinsey]

If Cherry Heering is produced in America, it's news to me. I have an old-style bottle from 2004, and it has a giant sticker across the top that says "imported" in addition to the words "product of Denmark" across he front and "imported by Charmer Imports, Co." on the back. In fact, I am quite certain that the scarcity of Cherry Heering that we had back around 3 years ago was due to the fact that Heering changed the bottle design and therefore temporarily suspended shipments to the States while jumping through our various legal hoops attendant to changing the packaging.

[TAPrice]

If Cherry Heering is produced in America, it's news to me.

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You're absolutely right. I have no idea why I wrote "produced." Maybe I meant that "it's still produce [overseas] and also still distributed in the US"? Sorry for the confusion. I've been getting by on very little sleep recently.

[birder53]

Finally picked up a bottle for $24.99. It was hidden high on a shelf usually used for extra bottles of stock. When I first asked for it the owner didn't know what I was talking about. Looking forward to finally using it in a cocktail.

[KD1191]

Can anyone tell me anything about Peach Heering? I found a shelf full of dusty bottles at a local store. They are all older format Cherry Herring bottles referenced above (the have raised letters in the glass that say Cherry Heering) but the label says Peach Heering, along with the usual "Imported" and "Peter Heering" info. On the back it says it's from the same folks that brought you Cherry Heering and lists Charmer Imports, Co.

Edited March 13, 2011 by KD1191 (log)

[KD1191]

Well, I cracked the bottle tonight...

The cork was pretty moist and crumbled at the slightest pressure after I got it out... No idea how to judge this sort of thing but I'm guessing maybe 30 years old? The bottle has a UPC but no government warning. I get the impression that implies early 80's? Anyway, on to tasting. Peach pie aroma, my very first thought was "Sex on the Beach, really?"...but the sweet stone fruit mid-palate, perhaps even more sweet black cherry flavor than I find in Cherry Heering, brings it back and really makes me think it might be worth mixing with. The finish is somewhat tannic and bitter, akin to peach skin, actually.