Liqueur "Grand Marnier": description and characteristics of a popular drink

Among the strong alcoholic beverages, not the least in the world market is the liquor "Grand Marnier". This wonderful slightly sweetish citrus infusion with a pleasant refined aroma has for many decades pleased real connoisseurs of drinks of this class. According to experts, it can be safely attributed to the category of elite alcohol.

Interesting to know

The creator of the original drink is Frenchman Louis-Alexander Marnier Lapostol. It was in 1880, when he was engaged in the family business of producing liqueurs, he invented an off-the-shelf recipe, combining the taste of a noble cognac with the aroma of a bitter orange. Deciding to get an opinion from the side, Louis-Alexander invited his friend to taste a new product. Hardly sipping a wonderful infusion, he immediately exclaimed: "Oh, Great Marnier!" This accidentally thrown phrase gave the name of a new drink. Thus appeared the famous liquor "Grand Marnier".

The product was immediately put into production. In a short time, his popularity grew so much that, according to statistics, he very soon became the most exported cognac of France. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the liquor "Grand Marnier" could be found in the maps of the wines of the world's largest hotels and restaurants. Historians argue that several bottles were even found on the bottom among the wreckage of the sunken "Titanic." The liquor "Grand Marnier" was once highly respected by the Prince of Wales. And in our day a big fan of this drink is the British Queen Elizabeth II herself. Therefore, in honor of her eightieth birthday, the manufacturer in 2006 released a separate series, having issued bottles in her favorite purple tones.

Product Description

Grand Marnier is an alcoholic drink with a fortress of 40 percent, made from cognac spirit with the addition of green oranges. The technology of cooking the product is a fairly long process. First, selected grapes, brought from the province of Cognac, are subjected to special treatment. The resulting alcohol is double distilled, and then aged for six years in oak barrels. At this time, the preparation of the orange (the main component of the liqueur) is carried out in the Caribbean islands. After harvesting, the fruit is peeled off and dried in the sun naturally. Finished raw materials are sent to France, where it is made of alcohol infusion. At the final stage of the process, the components are connected together. Several secret ingredients are added to them, and the result is a wonderful Grand Marnier.

Ready-made products are poured into original bottles that are shaped like cubes for distillation. The satin ribbon is tied to the neck and fixed with a wax seal. It is in this form that the product goes to the store shelves.

Unbiased opinions

In the domestic stores it is hardly possible to meet the liquor "Grand Marnier" on a free sale. Reviews of those who still had the chance to try it, say that the product is really worthy of those praises that can be heard in his address.

At one time, when it was a question of cognac with the scent of citrus, then basically only the famous "Curacao" was mentioned. The combination of wine alcohol with nutmeg, cloves, orange peel and cinnamon of many delighted. But the French "Grand Marnier" is something else. The presence of orange in its recipe makes the taste of the drink not quite ordinary. Being a hybrid of pomelo and mandarin, this citrus has an unusual bitterness, which in combination with flavored cognac gives an original and very pleasant taste. But many still embarrassed his Forty-Grave Fortress. Quite justifiably there is a doubt, what is it: brandy liquor or liqueur cognac? Probably, therefore, it is often used not in its natural form, but as an ingredient for making cocktails.

"Red ribbon"

The assortment of French fruit liqueur is not rich. Currently, there are only two of its varieties:

1. Cordon Jaune. The title is translated as "yellow ribbon". On sale is extremely rare. On the bottle with such a product, a yellow ribbon is really fixed.
2. Cordon Rouge (in translation - "red ribbon"). In fact, the liquor "Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge" - this is exactly the same drink that was invented by Louis-Alexander Marnier. It has a pleasant sweet taste with pronounced mandarin notes. The bouquet of the drink is quite complicated. It simultaneously combines the tastes of iris and candied fruits, almonds and hazelnuts, caramels and vanilla, as well as zest, oak and fragrant citrus jam. Aromas perfectly complement each other, and a long aftertaste allows you to better feel every component. Such a liqueur is good in all qualities. First, it can be used in its pure form with ice as a digestive or an aperitif. It can be served with ice cream, fruit or any desserts. Secondly, such a liqueur is an excellent component for a cocktail.

In addition, the manufacturer periodically releases a limited amount of the product with an exposure of up to fifty years.