Cognac and exotic bitter oranges meet in the Grand Marnier, a liqueur that is ready to give its best this spring when mixed in fresh and decisive cocktails. Here's how to prepare them
The beauty of classic cocktails is that they take you away from the embarrassment of choice when you arrive at a bar in a club. Gin Tonic, Old Fashion, Mai-Tai and Margarita, are words that come out of our mouths automatically, as if they were part of us, of our language and our desires. Perfect habits to toast, pass in time with friends or break the ice with those we do not know, but also to understand something from the first glance.
Just think of theUnderstanding that automatically takes between two people ordering the same cocktail or the curiosity that leads us to listen to the orders of others while we wait for our drink. And although what we know is perfect to cuddle us and protect ourselves from repentance, the risk of settling in a comfort zone and getting bored is high.
Why not conjure up it by revisiting the great classics? The interesting proposal comes from Grand Marnier, the famous liqueur produced by the company established by Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle in 1827. Created in 1880 with the name of Curaçao Marnier is produced from the union of a great French cognac with the exotic aroma of the peels of Citrus Bigardia, particular bitter oranges read in the Caribbean lands (the orchards are mainly found in Haiti) before complete ripening. It is the sun of the Caribbean to dry them so that they can best release the aromatic oils that characterize them and that will transform the French cognac, with the help of sugar, into one of the most famous liqueurs in the world.
And it is just thinking of the Caribbean sun and the overwhelming energy that you breathe in these lands guarded by the crystal clear sea that we have prepared 6 aromatic and carefree cocktails. We recommend siping them enjoying the first warmth of the evening, perhaps while planning the next trip to sun-kissed lands.
For the aperitif
Here are three cocktail recipes light, aromatic and fresh perfect to taste before dinner or accompanied by appetizers. To do something different, we advise you to accompany them to del fried platanus (if you do not find it, you can substitute it with slightly bitter bananas), perhaps served with a primosale-type fresh cheese.
Grand Tonic
Ingredients: 50 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, tonic water, ice, a slice of orange, raspberries to decorate
Method: pour the ice cubes into the Gin Tonic glass (the very large cup that the bartenders call baloon glass) and add the Grand Marnier. At this point pour tonic water and mix well before completing the cocktail with the orange slice and the raspberry.
Grand Margarita
Ingredients: 30 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 30 ml of tequila, 20 ml of lemon juice, ice, lime
Procedure: as for traditional Margarita, pour on a saucer of fine salt. Cut a lime slice, put it on the edge of the glass and let it flow so as to wet it with the juice. Cut another slice of lime that you will need to garnish and flip and the glass so as to adhere salt to the edge wet with juice. Pour into a shaker the Grand Marnier, tequila, lemon juice and ice and pour into the glass after shaking. Garnish with the lime slice.
Grand Mai-Tai
Ingredients: 30 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 60 ml of Appleton Estate Signature Blend rum, 15 ml of orzata, 15 ml of lemon juice, ice, a slice of lime, mint and a tuft of pineapple to garnish
Method: shake all liquid ingredients with ice, pour into a narrow, tall glass and garnish with lime, mint and pineapple leaves.
After dinner
Freshness, bitter notes and an enveloping taste. The Grand Marnier can be served with an ice cube as a digestive liqueur, but it is also the perfect base for intense and aromatic cocktails. Also in this case the theme of the revisitations of the great classics works and invites us to dare inspired by the best mixologists. The extra touch? There orange peel in the glass, perhaps cut so subtly to be wrapped around itself.
Grand Old Fashioned
Ingredients: 30 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 30 ml of Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Whiskey, 3 drops of aromatic bitter, ice, orange peel rolled up for garnish
Procedure: First of all pour the drops, the Grand Marnier and the Whiskey into the glass. Add the ice and mix until it is cold and well mixed. Garnish with the orange peel that we will squeeze on the surface of the cocktail to release the aromatic oils.
Grand Sidecar
Ingredients: 50 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 20 ml cognac, 20 ml of lemon juice, ice
Procedure: pour into the Grand Marnier shaker, cognac, lemon juice and ice. Shake well and pour into the cup.
Grand Collins
Ingredients: 50 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 15 ml of lemon juice, seltz, ice, rolled orange peel and raspberries for garnish
Procedure: pour the ice into the glass, add the Grand Marnier and lemon juice. Finally pour the seltz, mix well and serve with the orange peel and raspberry topping.
In the gallery above, all the cocktails to get inspired to prepare them with the most suitable glass and the gaskets to make them special.
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