Does not taste like maraschino cherries, or much like cherry fruit at all. Tastes more like cherry pit, almond, and herbs. It is bitter, while at the same time syrupy sweet. It overpowers any cocktail I put it in. I kept reducing the amount, ½, ¼, ⅛ of what was called for in any recipe... but it is still there, and I don't want to taste this stuff anymore!