Grand Marnier is a liqueur made from the dried peels of Curaçao oranges. It was invented by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle in 1880 and is still produced by the same family in France. The company that produces Grand Marnier boasts that it is the most exported liqueur from France and is sold in over 150 countries to be used in a wide range of drinks and desserts.
Varieties of Grand Marnier
Types of Grand Marnier primarily depends on the type of Cognac used ranging from Lower-end Cognac to 50-year old Cognac.
- Yellow Label or Cordon Jaune (not available in the U.S.) is the lowest grade Grand Marnier, which is not made from Cognac, instead made from common grain alcohol. It is rarely used as drinking alcohol, but commonly used in cooking, such as in making Crepes.
- Red Label or Cordon Rouge, the most common Grand Marnier is made from Cognac, using essentially the same technique as the original Grand Marnier in 1880. Cordon Rouge is often used in cooking, but may also be enjoyed in various mixed drinks or by itself.
- Centennial Edition, or Cuvé du Centenaire is made using the same technique as the Red Label, but substituting 25-year-old Cognac for the normal Cognac used. This costs nearly $200 per bottle.
- Grand Marnier 150 is a blend of the highest-quality 50-year-old Cognac costing more than $200 per bottle. It is often difficult to find hence, its advertising tagline..... "Hard to find, impossible to pronounce, and prohibitively expensive."
Brendan McGuigan.www.wisegeek.com.March 2010
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