Grand Marnier

The history of the Grand Marnier brand dates back to 1827, when Jean Baptiste Lapostolle founded a distillery for fruit liqueurs in Neauphle-le-Château near Paris. In 1876 his family merged with the Marnier family and a few years later, in 1880, the legendary Grand Marnier was created – a blend of French cognac and exotic bitter oranges from the Caribbean. The result was a unique liqueur with a refined taste that quickly became a symbol of luxury and the French “art de vivre”.

In 1892 Louis-Alexandre Marnier introduced the iconic bottle, inspired by the shape of cognac stills and designed by the crystal masters of Baccarat. The bottle was finished with a wax seal and ribbon, which later became the legendary red “Cordon Rouge” – the symbol of the brand.

Grand Marnier belongs to the category of orange liqueurs, but stands apart from classic triple sec. While triple sec is dry and light, Grand Marnier, thanks to its cognac base, is richer, fuller and offers a warming character with notes of orange peel, vanilla and oak.

The brand quickly gained popularity not only in France but worldwide. It was served at the most prestigious Belle Époque parties, was a favorite at the court of Napoleon III, and appeared in renowned Parisian hotels and restaurants. Grand Marnier became a key ingredient in classic cocktails such as the Sidecar, Margarita and Cosmopolitan.