Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier is a French brand of liqueurs. The brand's best-known product is Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, an orange-flavored liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of Cognac brandy, distilled essence of bitter orange, and sugar, containing 40% alcohol (70 British proof/ 80 US proof).[1][2] It is commonly consumed "neat" as a cordial or a digestif, and can be used in mixed drinks and desserts. Popular examples of the latter include crêpes Suzette and crêpes au Grand Marnier.

Aside from Cordon Rouge, the Grand Marnier line includes other liqueurs, most of which can be used similarly.

History

According to its official website, Grand Marnier's first distillery was built in 1827 by Jean Baptiste Lapostolle in the village of Neauphle-le-Château. His granddaughter Julia married Louis-Alexandre Marnier in 1876, and four years later, the Marniers released a signature cognac with Haitian bitter orange.[3]

Varieties

Cordon Rouge

Cordon Rouge ("Red Ribbon") is an orange-flavored cognac liqueur and the original Grand Marnier liqueur, created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is consumed neat and is also used in mixed drinks and desserts.

Signature Series

Natural Cherry – A blend of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge with wild tropical Haitian and Dominican oranges and European Griotte cherries.[6]
Raspberry Peach – A blend of European raspberries and rare red peaches from Ardèche, in the South of France, combined with Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.[6]

Signature Series

Natural Cherry – A blend of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge with wild tropical Haitian and Dominican oranges and European Griotte cherries.[6]
Raspberry Peach – A blend of European raspberries and rare red peaches from Ardèche, in the South of France, combined with Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.[6]

Cordon Jaune

Cordon Jaune (Yellow Ribbon) was a triple-sec Curaçao-like liqueur that was made with neutral grain spirit instead of Cognac. The production stopped on 1 January 2017, after the company was taken over by Campari.[6]

Cuvée du Centenaire

Cuvée du Centenaire ("Centennial Edition") was first released in limited quantities in 1927 to commemorate the 100th anniversary. It is made with up to 25-year-old fine cognacs and is consumed neat. On average, Cuvée du Centenaire is $145 per bottle.[6]

Cuvée Spéciale Cent Cinquantenaire

The Cuvée Spéciale Cent Cinquantenaire ("Special Sesquicentennial Edition") was created in 1977 to honor the 150th anniversary of the brand and is currently the most expensive variety of Grand Marnier. It is made with up to 50-year-old cognacs in frosted glass bottles featuring hand-painted Art Nouveau decorations. In 2005, it was marketed with the slogan "Hard to find, impossible to pronounce, and prohibitively expensive."[7][6]

Cuvée Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle

Cuvée Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle is a special tribute to the founder of Grand Marnier, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle. Made from 82% Cognac and 18% orange liqueur, it has a rich intensity of macerated citrus combined with the warming flavors of Cognac, pine, and Earl Grey tea on the finish.[6]

type	Liqueur
abv	40%
proof	80° US / 70° UK
manufacturer	Marnier Lapostolle
origin	France
introduced	1880
colour	Orange
flavour	Orange

History

Varieties

Cordon Rouge

Signature Series

Signature Series

Cordon Jaune

Cuvée du Centenaire

Cuvée Spéciale Cent Cinquantenaire

Cuvée Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle

Use

As a cordial

In mixed drinks

In food

Awards and recognition

See also

External links

References