10 Fantastic Grand Marnier Cocktails

At the top of the list of Grand Marnier cocktails: the Cadillac Margarita! As the name implies, this is a sophisticated version of the margarita. Float Grand Marnier on top of your classic margarita and you’ve got the Cadillac. It has a nuanced flavor that will make everyone say, “Wow! What’s in this?” It’s a great way to step up your cocktail game with very little effort. See also: Grand Marnier Margarita

Ingredients: Grand Marnier, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice

Another great way to make a Grand Marnier cocktail? Add bubbles! Mix Grand Marnier with Prosecco or champagne (whatever you have), and it’s classy and sophisticated, pairing citrus notes with lots of bubbles. Add an orange twist and it’s a fancy cocktail that takes only minutes to make! It’s almost an evening version of a mimosa: strong on the citrus but with an “after 4 pm” vibe.

Ingredients: Grand Marnier, Prosecco, lemon juice

Here’s a 1920’s slow sipper that’s begging to be part of your cocktail repertoire: the El Presidente cocktail! This Cuban rum cocktail never soared quite as high as the daiquiri or the mojito, but it’s something special in its own right. It’s sleek and sophisticated, like a Cuban spin on a Manhattan but using rum instead. It’s got some special ingredients and comes out boozy, subtly bitter with a sweet and citrus nuance. 

Ingredients: Aged rum, vermouth blanc, Grand Marnier, and grenadine

Step up the classic Sidecar and turn it into a Grand Marnier cocktail! Swap out the Cointreau for Grand Marnier and just like the Cadillac margarita, you've got a layered, high-end spin. This classic cocktail hails from the early 1900's and is a relative of the margarita. It's perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and layered and complex: warm, crisp, dry, rich, and full at the same time.

Ingredients: Cognac, Grand Marnier, lemon juice

The Mai Tai might sound like a fruity resort drink from the 1990’s, but it’s anything but! No, this drink is a classic cocktail from the 1940’s that’s been (cough) ruined by saccharine sweet versions intended for tourists. This cocktail is breathtakingly complex, featuring rum, orange liqueur like Grand Marnier, and fancy almond syrup. It’s just sweet enough, with nutty and vanilla notes against the sharp citrus. Float a little dark rum on top, and you get to the core of a Mai Tai: it’s sophisticated, nuanced, and might we say…extraordinarily special.

Ingredients: Aged rum, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orgeat, dark rum

Here’s a layered Grand Marnier cocktail that’s mighty tasty: the B 52! As a shot, the B52 might be a little…pedestrian, some might say. But the pairing of Kahlua coffee liqueur, sweet Irish cream, and orange liqueur is close to perfection. The combination is so classy, we’ve recreated it here as a slow sipping after dinner drink in a stemmed cocktail glass. You can drink it either way, but we prefer slow sipping rather than downing it as a shot. 

Ingredients: Kahlua, Irish cream, Grand Marnier

Here’s a Grand Marnier spin on a cocktail that’s a little sassy: Between the Sheets! A spin on the classic Sidecar, it features rum and Cognac together: something that in Prohibition times was thought to be a little naughty. Then swap out the Cointreau for Grand Marnier and you've got a high-end spin. The rum adds nuance to this citrusy drink, and it’s a great sour cocktail that goes down easy.

Ingredients: White rum, Cognac, Grand Marnier, lemon juice

Here's a surprising Grand Marnier cocktail: sangria! Sangria is easily done wrong here in the US, loading it with sugar or ginger ale. But the classic Spanish way to make it is all about nuanced flavor: red wine, brandy, and orange liqueur. Swap out the standard Cointreau for Grand Marnier. It’s bold, it’s fruity, and the perfect balance of dry and sweet.

Ingredients: Red wine, brandy, Grand Marnier, sugar, fruit (orange, apple, lemon)

Meet the Pegu Club cocktail! It’s a classic 1920’s drink invented at, as the name suggests, the Pegu Club. This boozy drink is sophisticated and refreshing, with a citrus and herbal finish. It’s surprisingly balanced, but not too sweet. Here’s how to make this intriguing classic that we think deserves a revival.

Ingredients: Gin, Grand Marnier, lime juice, bitters

Here's a Grand Marnier cocktail with a clean flavor and sophisticated vibe: a lemon drop martini! This zingy vodka martini is perfectly balanced and refreshingly tart, served with a sugar rim and a lemon twist. It looks so festive that it’s great for celebrations and cocktail hour.

Ingredients: Vodka (or Citron vodka), Grand Marnier, lemon juice, simple syrup