The Marny

Some classic cocktails have become a mainstay in today's cocktail culture more than others. Take, for example, the Negroni, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, which all date back to the 19th or early 20th century and are ubiquitous on cocktail menus everywhere. The Marny is a lesser-known classic and as simple as they come. With just two ingredients, this cocktail is booze-forward, simple, and sophisticated.

Grand Marnier occupies a place on the shelves of most bartenders and is used famously in drinks like the Margarita and Sidecar (some use Cointreau, another orange-flavored liqueur). Here, Grand Marnier is paired with gin in a 2:1 ratio, centering Grand Marnier and celebrating its rich Cognac base alongside its bitter orange flavor. Grand Marnier comes in at 80 proof, just as strong as most base spirits, meaning this cocktail a stiff one. Grand Marnier is aged in oak casks which imparts additional depth and complexity to the flavor. Grand Marnier is worth the addition to your spirits arsenal as it's not only fantastic in cocktails but is often used in desserts, like Grand Marnier Soufflé and torta di riso alla Carrarina.

Frequently asked questions

What does Grand Marnier taste like?

Grand Marnier is sweet but balanced, with rich notes of candied orange, toffee, caramel, hazelnut, marmalade, fresh orange zest, and of course, Cognac.

What is Grand Marnier made of?

"Grand Marnier is a blend of Cognac (slight majority) and orange liqueur," writes Food & Wine contributor Céline Bossart. "Because the orange liqueur doesn’t qualify as a Curaçao, we can categorize that component as a triple sec. Grand Marnier keeps the formula somewhat proprietary. But based on a variety of other sources, we can safely deduce that the non-Cognac component is a combination of distilled bitter orange essence and sugar (in other words, a liqueur). We also know that no additional herbs or spices are used, which effectively eliminates the word “Curaçao” from the conversation."