Episode Two of The Three Drinkers in Cognac sees Aidy, Helena and Eddy explore the second most famous drink of the region, Grand Marnier, pulling together some of their own cocktail creations in the process.
Aromatic dried orange peel is the heart of Grand Marnier, and more specifically Citrus Bigaradia, a delicately perfumed bitter orange picked before it has become fully ripe to gather those intense and highly concentrated oils. Distilled six times over and blended with sugar syrup and cognac and the gorgeous liqueur is complete!
So, which Grand Marnier cocktails did The Three Drinkers create to impress mixology extraordinaire Tiffanie Barriere?
The Grand Margarita
Showing them how it’s done first though, Tiffanie shook up the Grand Margarita. This is one of the most elegantly rounded cocktails you can make, with each ingredient bringing salty, sweet, bitter, and sour tastes. The Grand Marnier brings so much more depth than the usual syrup and the balance struck here is perfect, with the added texture from the Grand Marnier making every sip that bit more satisfying.
Ingredients
30ml Grand Marnier
30ml Premium Tequila
20ml Fresh Lime juice
Ice
Fresh lime to garnish
Salt for rim
Glass: Tumbler
Method
Cut and rub the lime around the rim of a glass. Add salt to a plate, tip the glass upside and rim with the salt. Next, combine the Grand Marnier, Tequila and lime juice in a shaker with ice and wet shake for 30 seconds. Strain into the tumbler over ice and garnish with a wheel of fresh lime.
Old Fashioned Persian (Eddy)
Introducing the winner of the mini-contest (sorry Aidy and Helena!), it’s Eddy who envisioned the orange flavouring of Grand Marnier with an Old Fashioned but wanted to add a touch of his Iranian heritage so included rose water and chai tea for this Old Fashioned Persian. There are light floral notes, warming spices and the silky sweet citrus of Grand Marnier typing everything together wonderfully.
Ingredients
30ml Grand Marnier
15ml Rosewater
15ml Chai tea infusion
Fresh lime
Orange for garnish
Glass: Tumbler
Method
Cut a slice of orange and rub it around the rim of a tumbler. Next, build the cocktail in the glass, combining the Grand Marnier, rosewater and chai over ice. Add a squeeze of lime and stir well. Garnish with an orange twist.
Orange You Happy To See Me (Aidy)
Aidy set out to celebrate the region around him, combining not just the two of the most celebrated drinks of the region, but local fresh orange juice, local honey, and even local eggs. It’s the region of Cognac in a glass!
Ingredients
50ml Cognac
25ml Grand Marnier
20ml Orange Juice
10ml Fresh Honey
1 Egg white
Glass: Martini glass
Method
Combine all ingredients bar the egg white into a shaker without ice and shake for 30 seconds. Next, add the egg white and ice and wet shake for another 30 seconds to activate the egg white. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with orange peel.
Le Grand St Clement (Helena)
Classic and simple, the gorgeous fresh fruit juice is apparent here straight away with the richer oomph from the Grand Marnier and Cognac following. Ever the oenophile, Helena tops up the glass with Champagne adding a crisp, bubbly and refreshing quality to an already delicious mix.
Ingredients
25ml Grand Marnier
15ml Fresh Lemon
15ml Fresh Orange
15 ml Cognac
Top up with Champagne
Glass: Chilled flute
Method
Combine the Grand Marnier, fruit juices and Cognac in a shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled flute half way then top up with Champagne and garnish with a thin orange slice.
Keep your eyes peeled for plenty more discoveries and cocktails from the series and if your wondering which cognac you should use, check this article out.