Grand Marnier COGNAC
Cognac is a fine spirit with a fascinating story. The craft of Grand Marnier cognac has remained the same over centuries and has been passed down by generations of dedicated master blenders.
THE finest crus
“Grapes are the heart and soul of Cognac. During the harvest, we source Ugni Blanc grapes from the Cognac region. This late-ripening variety has good resistance to grey mould and produces a wine with two fundamental characteristics: a high level of acidity and a generally low alcohol content.
These characteristics are important because the acidity naturally preserves the wine before distillation, while the low alcohol content allows a higher concentration of aromas. Ugni Blanc grapes are therefore perfect for distillation and the production of delicate, floral eau-de-vie.”
COGNAC DOUBLE distillation
We use traditional methods to turn grapes into our cognac. Unlike other spirits, each batch of cognac is double distilled in copper stills to give it its complex character. This process harnesses the highly aromatic “heart” of the liquid, producing the eau-de-vie that will develop into our Grand Marnier cognac.
THE OAK CASK aging
The clear eau-de-vie, resulting from the distillation, is aged in oak casks, giving the cognac its distinctive color. Grand Marnier’s process of barreling and aging eau-de-vie is an art in itself, completed in both Tronçais and Limousin oak to achieve the right complexity. A slow transformation where the liquid components are matured with the flavours, aromas and tannins of these oak cask.
THE ART OF COGNAC blending
Cognac is rarely derived from a single eau-de-vie. With a great deal of expertise, paired with the intuition and know-how passed down from generation to generation, our Master Blender pairs different aged eaux-de-vie and crus in order to obtain a unique, complex and well-balanced XO, XXO and VSOP Grand Marnier cognac.