Grand Marnier – French citrus cognac-based liqueur

French liqueur Grand Marnier is a drink created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostole based on brandy, essence of bitter oranges and sugar. Fortress – 40%, the liquor is drunk in its pure form as a digestif with desserts or as part of cocktails.

Manufacture

The exact recipe is kept secret, but some facts are public knowledge. For the production of Grand Marnier liqueur, the company uses only real French cognac, double distilled in copper stills and aged in oak barrels. The company’s blenders mix grape spirits themselves to get a blend that is optimally combined with a citrus bouquet.

Bitter Caribbean oranges are harvested by hand, and carefully monitored so that the fruits have not yet reached the peak of maturity, otherwise they will lose their aroma and the lion’s share of taste. The pulp is removed, and the zest is removed from the skin, which is left to dry in the sun. Dried orange peel is soaked in alcohol, then the finished tincture is distilled to obtain a concentrated essence.

Cognac, orange distillate and other ingredients (no one knows which ones) are mixed and sent to oak barrels for aging. Finally, the finished drink is poured into branded bottles with a characteristic red ribbon on the neck and a wax seal. Liquor is exported to 150 countries.

History of Grand Marnier

The first portion of the famous liquor was released in 1880, but its history began a little earlier. In 1827, Jean-Baptiste Lapostol founded a distillery specializing in light fruit alcohol. In 1876, his granddaughter married Louis-Alexandre Marnier, who came from a family of winemakers, giving rise to a new dynasty.

Four years later, the Grand Marnier liqueur was invented, and it was originally called Curacao Marnier, in honor of the island on which the fruits necessary for production grow. The legend claims that a friend of Louis-Alexandre, the owner of the Caesar Ritz hotel chain, tried the liquor and exclaimed: “Yes, it’s just magnificent (French – grand) Marnier!”, becoming the “godfather” of the brand.

By the beginning of the 1893th century, the drink had already won many national and international awards, for example, at an exhibition in Chicago in 1900 or a Paris competition in 12. Louis-Alexandre skillfully promoted the brand, offering the liquor to wealthy and influential customers. After one of these tastings, the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph purchased XNUMX boxes of Grande Marnier from the manufacturer at once. In addition, the winemaker had a close friendship with the hotelier Ritz, thanks to which a new liquor was served to the guests at the end of each meal.

In 1927, the anniversary “edition” of Cuvee du Centenaire appeared, and in 1933 a “cocktail boom” swept Europe and the USA, and bitter orange liqueur became an indispensable attribute of any self-respecting bar. In 1975, the company acquired its own bottling line in Normandy, and two years later, another celebratory variety appeared – Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire. The brand is almost 200 years old, and all this time it belongs to the same family, in which 6 generations have already changed. All Grand Marnier products have a recognizable design and high quality.

Assortment of Grande Marnier drinks

Likery Grand Marnier

• Cordon Rouge. The original liquor of authorship in 1880. An exquisite blend of quality cognac and bitter orange essence. Taste – creamy toffee, orange flowers, caramelized zest, orange jam, hazelnuts.
• Quintessence. A variation on the original drink from 1880. The combination of cognac with double-distilled orange essence has a particularly pronounced citrus taste and aroma, the bouquet is dominated by tones of vanilla, almonds, caramel and honey.
• Louis Alexandre. A brand released in honor of the creator of the liquor. Slightly more intense cognac taste, nuances of caramelized orange, citrus zest, bergamot.
• Cuvee du Centenaire. A liqueur created on the centennial anniversary of the founding of the company. Cognac of XO category is taken as a basis. The taste is spicy, with nuances of ginger, nutmeg, dried fruits.
• Cuvee du cent cinquantenaire. The drink appeared in 1977, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the brand. It is made from aged cognac XO, in the bouquet you can feel the tones of cocoa beans, cinnamon, honey, bitter almonds.
• Triple Sec. “Forerunner” of the famous liquor, “triple dry”, created in 1827. A blend of essences of sweet oranges and bitter oranges, the taste is dominated by a note of citrus jam.
• Cherry Marnier. Cherry liqueur with tones of almonds, spices, vanilla, ginger.

Cognac, armagnac and wine

• Cognac XO. A blend of more than 30 aged cognac spirits, the aroma contains tones of spices and dried fruits.
• Cognac VSOP. Aged for at least 5 years, woody tones, cinnamon, pepper are felt in the bouquet.
• Cognac VS. Aged in oak barrels for at least 3 years, the bouquet is dominated by nuances of hazelnuts, vanilla, oak, grapes.
• Armagnac Lapostolle XO. A 10-year-old Gascon brandy with a long aftertaste and hints of dried fruit and vanilla in the bouquet.
• Pineau Des Charentes Marnier. A fortified wine produced in the Cognac region, an underrated gem that only true connoisseurs can understand. It has a golden color, fruity aroma and tones of honey in the bouquet.
• Chateau de Sancerre Blanc. Wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the company’s own vineyards. Produced in a limited edition, it has a fresh and harmonious fruity taste with citrus notes.
• Chateau de Sancerre Cuvee du Connetable. It is also made from Sauvignon Blanc, but is a blend: 2/3 of the drink is fermented in oak barrels, and 1/3 in a stainless steel container. Mineral nuances, notes of vanilla, apricot are clearly felt in the taste.
• Chateau de Sancerre Red. Red wine made from Pinot Noir. Taste – fresh, intense, with nuances of cherries, red fruits, spices, oak.
• Casa Lapostolle. A Chilean wine made from vines brought from Bordeaux in the 1800s and unaffected by the phylloxera epidemic.

How to drink Grande Marnier

Liquor can be drunk neat or with ice from cognac glasses (snifters) or whiskey (old fashion). An appetizer is not required as the Grand Marnier acts as a digestif and is served after the meal. Also, this drink is an almost indispensable component of cognac-based cocktails.

Unlike other triple sec liqueurs, Grand Marnier has a higher strength, deeper and more pronounced taste, it goes well with other alcoholic beverages and creates interesting combinations. Bartenders recommend replacing them, for example, with rum in popular recipes, and evaluate the result.

In addition, liquor is often added to coffee, pastries, main dishes, sauces and desserts.

Popular cocktails with Grande Marnier

1. grand cosmos. 1 part Grande Marnier, 1.5 parts vodka, 2 parts cranberry juice and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix everything in a shaker with ice, serve in a cocktail glass.
2. red lion. 1 part Grande Marnier, 1.5 parts each gin and orange juice, 0.5 parts lemon juice. Mix ingredients in a shaker, serve with ice.
3. Grand Margaret. Approximately equal portions of Grand Marnier and tequila are mixed with freshly squeezed lime juice (take half as much as tequila) in a shaker with ice. Grate the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip in salt, then pour the contents of the shaker into the glass.
4. B-52. Pour 20 ml each of coffee liqueur, cream liqueur and Grande Marnier into a shot glass in layers in that order. Drink in one gulp.
5. Grand Sidecar. Equal shares of Grande Marnier liqueur and VSOP cognac, half as much as lemon juice. Mix in a shaker, serve in a chilled glass with a sugar rim.