Name: Proper Chophouses GRAND MARNIER Recipe
Cook time: 48 h
Total time: 48 h
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 cups Grand Marnier (orange liqueur) - Cuvée or substitute; 1 cups Cognac (XO or VSOP recommended); 0.25 cups Curaçao-style orange liqueur (if making split or boosting orange); 3 tbs Orange zest (from untreated oranges); 0.5 tbs Vanilla bean (split and seeds scraped) or pure vanilla extract; 2 tsp Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water); 0.25 cups Cane sugar (for syrup if making from scratch); 0.25 cups Water (for syrup); 1 tsp Bitters (orange or aromatic) - optional; 2 to taste Orange twist or wheel; 1 cups Ice (for chilled serving)

Method

Main cordial

Combine spirits and flavorings

Choose a clean, airtight glass bottle or jar (750 ml to 1 L). Pour in the cognac and the Grand Marnier (or your selected orange liqueur) and the additional 1/4 cup curaçao if you want a slightly brighter orange profile. Add the orange zest and the split vanilla bean with its scraped seeds (or 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract).

Infuse

Seal the container and let the mixture rest at room temperature for 24–48 hours, gently swirling the bottle once or twice a day to help extract oils from the zest and marry flavors. Taste after 24 hours. Infusion beyond 48 hours can deepen flavor but may increase bitterness from zest; remove zest early if it becomes too bitter.

Strain

After desired infusion time, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean measuring cup or pitcher to remove zest and vanilla pod fragments. Press gently on solids to extract remaining liquid, but avoid squeezing out excessive bitter solids from the peel.

Optional sweetener & finishing

Prepare simple syrup (if using homemade)

If making syrup from scratch, combine 1/4 cup cane sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Cool to room temperature before using.

Adjust sweetness and balance

Add the simple syrup (start with 2 teaspoons) to the strained cordial, stir and taste. If desired, add up to another teaspoon at a time until you reach preferred sweetness and mouthfeel. If using bitters, add 1 teaspoon of orange or aromatic bitters to add complexity and stir to incorporate.

Rest and marry

After sweetening, transfer the cordial back to a sterilized bottle, seal, and let it rest for 24 hours to allow flavors to marry. Chill if you plan to serve cold.

For serving

Serve neat or on the rocks

Serve 30–45 ml chilled neat in a cordial glass or over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist or thin wheel. The cordial is also suitable for use in cocktails that call for orange liqueur with a cognac backbone.

Storage

Store the finished Grand Marnier-style cordial in a sealed bottle at room temperature away from direct light. Properly stored, it will keep for 6–12 months; vanilla may darken and aromatics will slowly evolve.

Grand Marnier Recipe