Say Bonjour to 5 Delicious Grand Marnier Cocktails

We dedicate this edition of Madtini to the delicious orange French liqueur Grand Marnier. The liqueur was first created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle and is made from a blend of cognacs and the distilled skins of bitter oranges. Grand Marnier uses only variety of orange, the Citrus Bigardia which are grown on their own plantation in the Caribbean. The peels are dried in the sun and then macerated and distilled to release their essence. The results are combined with aged cognac to create the final liqueur.

We’re featuring five of the most delicious cocktails from the list featured on the Grand Marnier website. Á votre santé!

Grand Cosmopolitan
Grand Sidecar
Grand Romance
Grand Mojito
Grand Ginger

Grand Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Grand Marnier
• 1 oz vodka
• 1 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 dash lemon juice

Preparation
Add the Grand Marnier, vodka, cranberry juice and lemon to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice.

Shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Grand Sidecar

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
• 1 3/4 oz cognac
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

Preparation
Add the Grand Marnier, cognac and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice.

Shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Grand Romance

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 oz Grand Marnier
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 2 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 dash raspberry syrup*

Preparation
Add the Grand Marnier, cognac and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

*Raspberry Syrup Recipe
Ingredients

• 2 cups raspberries
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Preparation
Add the berries, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 cup of water to a saucepan. Stir slowly ad you cook over medium heat for 4 minutes until berries begin to release their juices.

Add 1 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth lined strainer.

Return the liquid to the saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir the sugar until it dissolves, then bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the stove and let cool. The syrup can be refrigerator and stored for up to 3 weeks in a tightly sealed container.

Grand Mojito

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
• 4 oz club soda
• Half lime
• 7 mint leaves
• Crushed ice

Preparation
In a tall glass, add Grand Marnier and mint leaves. Add fresh lime juice from half a lime. Add ice cubes and top off with soda water.

Grand Ginger

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
• 4 oz ginger ale
• Wedge of lime
• Ice cubes

Preparation
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, pour in the Grand Marnier. Fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale. Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and then add the wedges to the glass.

Join the Madtini party on Twitter and Facebook