Best Grand Marnier Substitutes

If you don’t have this top-shelf liqueur, here are the best Grand Marnier substitutes to use when you’re mixing up cocktails.

Grand Marnier is a French liqueur that blends Cognac, bitter orange, and sugar. You’ll taste bitter orange and brandy, and the finish has notes of vanilla and oak. Who wouldn’t want to add that to a drink?

If you’re making a cocktail that calls for Grand Marnier but you don’t have any, there are a few options that work as decent substitutes for this top-shelf liqueur that are easier to find. 

Best Grand Marnier substitutes

1. Cointreau

The best Grand Marnier substitute is Cointreau. Cointreau is another orange liqueur with a citrus perfume flavor that’s well balanced between bitter and sweet. It’s most well-known for its inclusion in classic cocktails like the margarita and Cosmo, so it’s possible you’ve already got a bottle on hand!

I use up that bottle, try more of my favorite Cointreau cocktails like the Classic Sidecar or the Lemon Drop Martini.

2. Cognac or any brandy

Another great Grand Marnier substitute is Cognac! Grand Marnier is made with Cognac, which makes it an easy replacement. Cognac is a French brandy with a flavor of citrus, vanilla, and spices.

There are several grades of Cognac that indicate how long it’s been aged. Feel free to select a VS (Very Special) or VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale). These are the least expensive, and they work just fine as a mixer. If you can’t find or don’t have Cognac, use any type of brandy.

3. Any orange liqueur

Any orange liqueur can stand in for Grand Marnier in a pinch. Common varieties of orange liqueur are triple sec or orange Curaçao.

Triple sec refers to a dry style of orange liqueur. “Sec” means dry in French, so some say the name means “triple dry” or “triple distilled.” The term can be used to refer to a style of dry orange liqueurs as a category, but most often the name refers to a lower-quality generic orange liqueur.

Curaçao is the original orange liqueur. If you can find orange Curaçao, it’s a great match. I don’t recommend substituting blue Curaçao for Grand Marnier, since its blue color and overall vibe don’t jive well with the vibe of this high-end liqueur.

Related recipes

Here are some Grand Marnier cocktail recipes to try:

• French Connection Cocktail
• Between the Sheets
• Sazerac Cocktail
• Brandy Old Fashioned
• Milk Punch