Sublime Benevolence (Grand Marnier)

Member Name: vinodgm

Product:	Grand Marnier
Date:	25/02/02 (247 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smooth, Highest quality, Great taste

Disadvantages: A bit expensive

There are many liqueurs available in the world today and infact I have chosen this medium to write about several of my favourite ones.

One liqueur that certainly does deserve a positive opinion is Grand Marnier.

Grand Marnier is produced by Marnier-Lapostolle and they established their distillery in the 1820’s in an area called the Neauphle-le-Chateau in France. However they only began producing Grand Marnier in 1880.

Grand Marnier consists of orange peel, cognac and sugar syrup. The oranges used in Grand Marnier are grown in Neauphle-le-Chateau in the area where their distillery is located. However the cognac used in the production is aged at the Chareau de Bourg located in the heart of Charente country.

The secret behind the unique taste of Grand Marnier is firstly the orange peel and secondly the process that is used to blend the spirit produced by the orange peel with the cognac and sugar syrup.

The orange peels are treated over a considerable period of time and then distilled. This yealds a flavoured spirit that is then blended with the cognac and sugar syrup. Then prior to bottling it is aged in wine cellars and this again filtered several time so as to clear all impurities.

Blending these ingredients together is something that Grand Marnier have perfected since their products are sold worldwide and to countries with different weather patterns (hot and cold climates). They have perfected the formula required to stabilize the nectar irrespective of the outside temperature.

The end product is Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge. A sultry liqueur with a sublime taste. A nectar that is bursting with the taste of oranges but yet the cognac shows who’s in charge.

The liqueur is presented in a lovely looking bottle, holding 70cl of content and containing 40% Alcohol by volume.

The nectar is a thick and sticky amber coloured concoction. Make sure you don’t get any of thi
s on your clothes, as you will have a torrid time getting it off.

Personally I have had this on several occasions and always neat over a lot of ice. However Grand Marnier is a chef’s delight for usage as a prime ingredient with puddings, desserts and chocolate dishes. It is one of the most widely used liqueurs in cooking. I personally cannot claim to have had any of these preparations containing Grand Marnier but I am sure that over my lifetime I must have tasted some unknowingly, such is it’s popularity.

As with other liqueurs like Tia Maria, this is an awesome drink that tastes of quality. Just the mere fact that it contains ingredients that are usually so adverse reacting to each other, yet so timidly and purely presented to you, speaks volumes for the product.

As with other high quality liqueurs Grand Marnier bears quite a high price tag but not one that is beyond any of us. A bottle goes for around £19.00. This may vary depending on where you purchase it from and might go as low at £18.00 or as high as £21.00.

It is one of those liqueurs that I find deserves respect and is not one that should be swallowed down quickly. Rather a dim and quite setting is the ideal scenario for this nectar. Sit back, relax and sip slowly and to your hearts content.

So if you ever have the chance to experience Grand Marnier please do not hesitate. You will surely not be disappointed.

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