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These Grand Marnier cocktails have a level of sophistication that only this top shelf orange liqueur can bring! Here are the top drinks to try.
Got a bottle of Grand Marnier? This top-shelf orange liqueur adds a level of sophistication to every drink it touches. You can drink it straight up, but it’s even better mixed into cocktails. Grand Marnier is a French liqueur that blends Cognac, bitter orange and sugar. The bottle you’ll often see is called Cordon Rouge, which is the Grand Marnier brand’s most popular product.
What does Grand Marnier taste like? You’ll taste bitter orange and brandy, with a finish of vanilla and oak. Who wouldn’t want to add that to a drink? As two cocktail experts, here are our top Grand Marnier cocktails to try with this liqueur, from the high-end Cadillac margarita to simply pairing it with bubbly Prosecco.
Top Grand Marnier cocktails to try
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
Cadillac Margarita (with Grand Marnier)
Step up your margarita game with the Cadillac Margarita! It uses top-shelf tequila and Grand Marnier liqueur to add sophistication and style.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (1 ½ ounces) best quality tequila reposado
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) Cointreau
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) Grand Marnier
- Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
- For the garnish: Lime wedge
Instructions
- Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use our Margarita Salt).
- Place tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until cold.
- Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Then carefully pour the Grand Marnier onto the top of the drink over an inverted spoon (float it!). Serve immediately.
Popular cocktail recipes you may enjoy
There are so many great cocktail recipes to try! Pick from some of the following:
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- Italian Cocktails: Italy has gifted the world some of the greatest cocktails!
- Cognac Cocktails: Here’s what to do with this high-end French brandy.
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- Ginger Beer Cocktails: Pick from Moscow mule spins, the Pimm’s Cup, and more.
- Scotch Cocktails: Unique mixed drinks using this Scottish whisky.
- Orange Juice Cocktails: OJ is a great mixer…and it’s not just for mimosas.
- Bourbon Cocktails: Try these bourbon greats, like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan.
- Vermouth Cocktails: All the best drinks using dry or sweet vermouth.
