What is Grand Marnier®?

Question: What is Grand Marnier®?

It is a cognac brandy flavored with oranges

Answer: Grand Marnier®'s origins date back to 19th century France. Bitter orange peels are added to a cognac brandy base along with spices and vanilla. It is then sweetened with a sugar syrup to produce an orange-flavored liqueur and aged in oak barrels to mellow the liqueur before bottling. Grand Marnier® boasts of being the first liqueur to be exported from France.

This liqueur is amber in color with a distinct orange flavor which lends itself to many cooking applications. There are a number of orange liqueur products on the market, including Cointreau®, which has an equally long history but is clear in color.

More About Grand Marnier® and Grand Marnier® Recipes

• Grand Marnier® Cooking Tips
• What is Grand Marnier®? FAQ
• What is the difference between liquor and liqueur? FAQ
• Alcohol Substitution Chart
• Alcohol Burn-Off Chart
• Grand Marnier® Recipes
_{Cooking with Grand Marnier® Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}