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Velvety smooth and elegant, Grand Marnier can be sipped as an after-dinner drink or used to flavor your most special desserts.
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This rich, amber-colored liqueur is flavored with the peels of bitter
Haitian
oranges, exotic
spices and
vanilla. Unlike other orange
liqueurs (Curacao,
Triple Sec), Grand Marnier is blended with a variety
of fine cognacs and aged
in oak barrels for an elegant, velvety, long finish.
Sipped "neat" as an after-dinner drink, the liqueur can also be mixed
into a number of classic cocktails. It pairs beautifully
Brie,
goat
cheese and
Roquefort, and is often added to flavor elegant desserts
such as
chocolate soufflé,
tiramisu and crème brûlée.
A Little Bite of History
The Grand Marnier story began in 1827, when Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle
founded a fruit liqueur distillery in France. Later, Louis-Alexandre Marnier, a descendant of a
notable
wine-making family, married Lapostolle's granddaughter and joined the family business.
It was in 1880 that Marnier, a cognac
connoisseur, first envisioned a liqueur bearing his name. After a trip
to Haiti, he came up with the idea of blending cognac with a rare
variety of bitter Haitian orange and giving it a period of barrel
aging. The liqueur was originally called "Curacao Marnier," but when
Marnier's friend, hotelier Cesar Ritz tasted the creation, he suggested
a new name: "Grand Marnier."
Varieties
Cordon Rouge
The original Grand Marnier has a bright amber color and bitter orange flavor with hints of orange marmalade and
hazelnuts.
Louis Alexandre
Blended with extra cognac, this variety is drier and more intense. The
copper-colored liqueur has a candied orange flavor with notes of pine,
sandalwood and Earl Grey
tea.
Cuvée du Centenaire
Launched in 1927 to honor the distillery's 100th anniversary, this dark
amber colored liqueur has a deeper, more complex flavor. It's made
from rare French cognacs and carries notes of dried fruit, gingerbread
and
nutmeg.
Cuvée du Cent-Cinquantenaire
Launched in 1977 to honor the distillery's 150th anniversary, this
reddish-gold blend is made with very old cognacs from the Grand
Champagne area. A favorite of cognac enthusiasts, the bitter orange
flavor is enhanced with notes of
coffee,
honey and spices.
Buying Tips
Most recipes only require a small amount of Grand Marnier for
flavoring. If you don't have the need for an expensive,
full-sized bottle, most liquor stores sell small, single-serving bottles
for a reasonable price.
Usage Tips
• Blend with
tequila, freshly squeezed
lime juice and
sugar for a sophisticated take on the
margarita.
• Soak and plump dried fruits in Grand Marnier (instead of warm water) before adding to recipes.
• Add a splash to your
chocolate fondue pot.
• Experiment by adding a bit to your favorite citrus-flavored recipes.
Substitution Tips
If Grand Marnier is not available, try Cointreau or any other
orange-flavored liqueur. Orange juice concentrate can also be used
successfully in many recipes.
Try one of our favorite Grand Marnier recipes:
Chocolate Martinis
Tiramisu
2-Minute Soufflé au Grand Marnier with Raspberry Creme Fraiche
