The Stanić Group wants to revitalize the popular Maraschino from Zadar. Maraschino must be a destination brand

Stanić, a member of the Maraska Group, presented a new signature drink at the Museum of Glass in Zadar last week Maraschino kiss. With this move, Maraska plans to restore the old glory of the iconic Zadar liqueur and make it modern and adapted to the needs of today's consumers.

Maraschino is a classic, and classics never go out of fashion, they just need to be given a new twist, according to the Stanić Group, and together with cocktail master Marin Nekić, they created the signature drink Maraschino kiss, which was created in such a way that you can enjoy it whenever you want.

"With great respect, we accept the obligation to return Maraschino to restaurants, cafes, clubs, but also to the kitchens of our Zadar residents, and of all those who will just get to know this elixir of maraschino cherries outside of Zadar. Mix drinks and cocktails are more popular than ever before, following this lead, Maraschino Kiss was born because we recognized the needs of the market. We believe in his successHe said Stjepko Hlevnjak, director of Maraska.

"Before we set out to conquer the whole of Croatia and the world, we wanted to first introduce Maraschino kiss to the people of Zadar with the aim of making it the number one drink at all parties and get-togethers. Your opinion is extremely important to us and we value it. We believe that you will recognize our efforts and Maraska's quality", She emphasized Nina Stanic, member of the Stanić Group Marketing Management Board.

As Maraschina is a Zadar drink and has a long and rich history, every tourist who comes to Zadar should definitely hear about Maraschino and try it. Of course if he drinks alcohol. On the other hand, all catering establishments, from hotels, cafes to restaurants, should have it on offer and offer it to their guests. 

Maraschino must be a destination brand. Maraschino is Zadar. 

Maraschino must be a training ground for the creative, from the aforementioned cocktails to various other extensions in gastronomy and confectionery. Of course, if it is possible to make a good mix from the cherry itself to the drink. And you can, especially with marasca cherry.

As in the Seychelles you cannot avoid their Takamaka rum or in Scotland whiskey, Ireland's Guinness, Italy's prosecco, so tourists should not leave Zadar without tasting Maraschino.

For this story to succeed, Maraschino must become a Zadar brand. And that requires much more than Maraska's will. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and I hope that he will have the support of the entire destination, especially the TZ office and the HoReCa sector. There is a question of awareness and belonging, because tourists want to get to know our culture of living, something new and authentic. 

Of course, we can always continue to import everything, but that is tourism that we have to move away from. This is not the point of tourism, to stimulate imports, but to strengthen the local economy and exports. And tourism is an excellent medium for export. 

By the way, several years ago there was an initiative to paint the crosswalk in the colors of a Dalmatian dog or a Dalmatian zebra. Interestingly, as none of the foreign guests know, nor did we brand it, how is the world-famous Dalmatian dog, an autochthonous breed from Croatia?

A big mistake and a missed opportunity. That is exactly why the initiative was launched to start this very process through the Dalmatian zebra.

/ / / An initiative has been launched to color the pedestrian crossing in Zadar in the patterns of a Dalmatian dog

/ / / You can't do it in Croatia, but that's why you can do it in Spain. "Dalmatian zebra" came to life in Spain

Unfortunately, the initiative did not get the "green" light, but interestingly, the story spread through the European media, and the Spaniards used that story as inspiration. 

History of Maraschino

Marasca cherry it originated from Asia Minor, from where it spread to the Mediterranean. The marasca cherry tree has adapted well to the stony and poor soil of Dalmatia. Precisely because of the specificity of the Mediterranean climate and soil in the northern area of ​​Dalmatia, marasca produces the best quality fruit and thus it becomes an autochthonous plant marasca cherry, also known as marasca.

The oldest written document in which the marasca cherry tree is mentioned was found among the notebook records of the State Archives in Zadar, in the late Middle Ages, in the 14th century, in 1399 to be exact. The notebook records describe: "...one big marasca tree in the immediate vicinity of the city of Zadar at the location of Kolovare, in a vineyard near Fontana, by the very sea...". This document is also the oldest written document in the wider area of ​​Dalmatia.

Through 5 centuries of Maraschino production tradition in the city of Zadar, this unique liqueur has undergone a major transformation. From family and manufacturing production in the very beginnings, to the largest industry in Zadar at the time, which formed the basis of economic activity. In its most propulsive period, in the 19th century, Zadar's liquor industry produced over 400.000 bottles of liquor per year, of which even two thirds were accounted for by Zadar Maraschino.

Maraschino began to be produced by Dominican monks in the 16th century, and initially it was mainly used as a medicine. Later, Maraschino became one of the most famous Zadar and Croatian products, which has remained recognized to this day as an excellent liqueur obtained from an autochthonous Dalmatian type of sour cherry. cherry marasca.

This Zadar liqueur was then exported with great success to Vienna, Paris, Saint Petersburg, London, Berlin, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Naples, Genoa, Milan, Constantinople and to the cities of Switzerland, France and Belgium. It was later exported to the United States, Canada, Australia and many other countries.

In 1871, Queen Victoria withdrew English warships from the Mediterranean, in order to load Maraschino for the needs of the British court.

Famous French writer Honoré de Balzac Maraschino is mentioned in 1842 in his novel "Un debut dans la vie". "That was in that town where maraschino is made. I was there. It's on the coast..."

Maraschino with its epithet "king of liquor" is gaining world fame and its taste and aromas have been enjoyed by many celebrities: Alfred Hitchcock, GB Shaw, Charles Baudelaire, Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Charlie Chaplin and many others. Interestingly, the inventory of the sunken luxury passenger liner Titanic contained a large amount of Maraschino.

Cover photo:FilipFilipovic, pixabay.com / Maraska / illustration: hrturism 

Photos in the article: Maraska, Stanić Group