Grand Marnier has carved a niche within the liqueur community. Its blend of finesse, tradition, and a whisper of daring pairs fine French cognacs with the essence of bitter orange.
Founded in 1827, Grand Marnier first created its now iconic orange cognac liqueur by blending fine cognac and the essence of exotic bitter orange peel. Oranges are picked whilst still green, and their peel is dried to lock in flavour.
Rich with a zesty bitter orange twist, the best Grand Marnier liqueurs range from the versatile Cordon Rouge, the rich VSOP, XO, and XXO offerings up to the 70-year-old Grande Cuvée Quintessence.
Best Grand Marnier Liqueurs
Packed with cognac richness and bitter orange essence, the best Grand Marnier liqueurs are rich and decadent, promising a journey of flavours. Here are 5 to discover.
1. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
Overview
- Distiller: Grand Marnier
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Amber
Review
Ah, Cordon Rouge, it’s the classic Grand Marnier. A liqueur that balances sweetness with strength, offering a harmonious blend of zesty orange flavours and rich cognac that is incredibly versatile.
On The Nose
Vibrant bitter orange zest with a hint of vanilla.
On The Palate
A beautiful symphony of bitter orange, balanced with the warmth of vanilla, oak and a slight nuttiness. The finish is long, with a moreish toffee sweetness lingering.
Best Served
I recommend that Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is best enjoyed in a sophisticated cocktail such as a Sidecar.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre
Overview
- Distiller: Grand Marnier
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Copper
Review
Using a blend of rich VSOP cognacs, Grand Marnier Louis-Alexandre is a fitting tribute to the founder. It’s bolder, a tad more adventurous, and speaks to those who appreciate a more robust orange and cognac flavour fusion.
On The Nose
Zesty orange and bergamot, candied sweetness, mild spice, and woody notes.
On The Palate
For me, this one’s a dance of flavours – bitter orange, macerated citrus, and subtle hints of Earl Grey tea collide with cognac spices mid-palate. The finish is long and inviting.
Best Served
Enjoy this beauty neat. Also, it is perfect in an orange-tastic Old Fashioned where its boldness can shine.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire
Overview
- Distiller: Grand Marnier
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Amber
Review
Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire celebrates 100 years of Maison Marnier-Lapostolle, which was founded in 1827 and blends XO cognacs from the finest regions in France.
On The Nose
A complex bouquet of candied orange, toffee and spices.
On The Palate
An indulgent blend of aged cognacs and exotic bitter oranges revealing toffee and smooth oak mid-palate. The finish is luxurious, with plenty of XO cognac’s fruity richness with hints of tobacco.
Best Served
Savor Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire neat. For an exciting cocktail, pour 60ml/2oz of Cuvée du Centenaire into a flute glass and top up with champagne. The bubbles work wonders.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Grand Marnier Grande Cuvée Révélation
Overview
- Distiller: Grand Marnier
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Deep Amber
Review
Grande Cuvée Révélation is an intricate tapestry of flavours. It’s innovative, a bold stride into new realms of taste due to its combination of XXO cognac, aged for 14 years and orange essence.
On The Nose
Fragrant bitter orange, rich plum, tobacco
On The Palate
An extravagant mix of bitter orange, rich fruits, tobacco, wood and a whisper of walnut. It’s a journey of flavours, culminating in a bold and elegant finish.
Best Served
Serve Grande Cuvée Révélation on the rocks with a twist of orange. Also, it is ideal in a Negroni, with its smoothness offsetting some of the Campari bitterness.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Grand Marnier Grande Cuvée Quintessence
Overview
- Distiller: Grand Marnier
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Deep Copper
Review
Grande Cuvée Quintessence is the pinnacle of the Grand Marnier stable, a blend of the rarest reserves aged up to 70 years old, nestling in a Maison Baccarat crystal podium.
On The Nose
Exotic oranges, rich fruits, almonds, vanilla.
On The Palate
A luxurious mix of well-aged cognac fruitiness, vanilla and distilled essence of bitter orange peel. It’s rich, deep, and incredibly smooth, with a finish revealing more fruits and woody nuances.
Best Served
Enjoy it neat, to appreciate its full glory. And don’t chuck the bottle in the recycling!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre
Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre is my top pick due to its versatile all-round appeal. This VSOP blend dazzles with rich cognac flavours, orange essence and hints of tea and spice.
History Of Grand Marnier
The house of Grand Marnier, now a name synonymous with luxury and refinement, began its illustrious journey back in 1827 when Jean Baptiste Lapostolle built a distillery just outside Paris.
In 1876, Jean Baptiste Lapostolle’s granddaughter, Julia, married Louis-Alexandre Marnier, a wine merchant, and they created La Maison Marnier.
However, it was not until 1880 that Louis-Alexandre Marnier had the idea for a French liqueur that would distinguish itself by blending premium Cognac with the exotic essence of bitter oranges, a novel idea at the time.
The result was a unique and harmonious blend that elevated it beyond traditional liqueurs that stood the test of time for nearly 200 years.
Also Read: A Complete History Of Cognac
Conclusion
More than the sum of its parts, blending fine cognacs with the essence of bitter orange peel must have been an Eureka moment that is as striking today as it was back in 1880.
Each Grand Marnier variant offers a unique experience, from the original Cordon Rouge that’s ideal for cocktails, the rich and decadent VSOP, XO, and XXO sippers, and not forgetting their stunning Grande Cuvée Quintessence offering.
Also Read: 7 Delicious Cherry Brandy Liqueurs (Our Top Picks)
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
