![\"Grand-Marnier---Ritz-Carlton-Montreal---Grand-History\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Grand-Marnier-Ritz-Carlton-Montreal-Grand-History.jpg\")
Photo: Bicom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
It is freshly landed from Calgary that Mr. Raguenaud receives us at the Ritz-Carlton in Montr\u00e9al, it must be said that there is a long history between C\u00e9sar Ritz and Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. We are first welcomed in Le Grand Lounge, a brand new permanent space created by an association between Grand Marnier and the Ritz-Carlton Montr\u00e9al to pay homage to their rich shared history.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Grand-Marnier-Lounge---Ritz-Carlton-Montreal---bar-Cart\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Grand-Marnier-Lounge-Ritz-Carlton-Montreal-bar-Cart.jpg\")
Photo: Bicom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
The evening takes place with the Grand Sidecar, the latter is part of the menu of historical cocktails reinvented, featuring real classics with a touch of modernity, and some with Champagne.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----In-the-Grand-Salon\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-In-the-Grand-Salon.jpg\")
Photo: Bicom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
After having exchanged a few minutes with Mr. Raguenaud, tasted a few bites, took some pictures and drank some cocktails, I went with the other guests, in the tasting room, where we waited for 8 samples, 4 Grand Marnier products (Cuv\u00e9e Louis-Alexandre, Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire, Cuv\u00e9e 1880, Cuv\u00e9e Quintessence) and 4 of their cognacs used in the making of Grand Marnier (VSOP, X. O., X. O. Grande Champagne and Paradise), the evening can begin. Note that cognac is made from the Trebianno grape, known in France under the name of Ugni blanc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grand Marnier Assembly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----Vines\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-Vines.jpg\")
Mr. Patrick Raguenaud in the Vines
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat gives that orange tastes so specific to the Grand Marnier? It is the bitter orange, more precisely the orange bigarade. These are oranges that are not made to be eaten. When they are green, they are picked and cut by hand. Subsequently, they are dried in the sun, put in bags and transported in France in containers of 400 to 500 tons. They come either from Saint-Domingue in Haiti, Brazil, Paraguay or Tunisia, for the latter, they come from the same plants that use Hermes, which produces perfumes known for its citrus notes.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----Bottle-Signature\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-Bottle-Signature.jpg\")
Mr. Raguenaud signing the bottles
Photo: Bicom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt all started in 1827 when Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle, distiller of fine fruit liqueurs, built what would become the first Grand Marnier distillery in Neauphle-le-Ch\u00e2teau, a small town outside Paris. A few years later, in 1876, Julia, granddaughter of Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle, married Louis-Alexandre Marnier. The Marnier Lapostolle House was born. And in 1880, certainly inspired by his in-law, Louis-Alexandre Marnier had the eccentric idea of \u200b\u200bcombining a refined French cognac with a rare variety of bitter oranges from the Caribbean. It was the beginning of Grand Marnier. Remember those anecdotes where your parents told you they were receiving oranges at Christmas, orange was, at the time, a luxury product, and it\u2019s a little because of its presence in the Grand Marnier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The iconic bottle, Mr. Raguenaud told me, is inspired by the silhouette of a traditional cognac still\u2014the red ribbon and the wax seal added. These elements have become the signature of Cordon Rouge, still used today. With the complicity of C\u00e9sar Ritz, the product is quickly found in the largest hotels in the world starting with the Ritz Paris and the Savoy (we are talking about the Savoy in our article about Fairmont\u2019s Cocktails Perfected program<\/a>) and many others. The Ritz-Carlton of Montr\u00e9al where I made an interview with Patrick Raguenaud that you can read in the next lines is a <\/span>little more about the evolution of Grand Marnier.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMeeting Patrick Raguenaud<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----Cellar\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-Cellar.jpg\")
Mr. Raguenaud in the cellar
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt\u2019s in Le Grand Lounge that I join Patrick Raguenaud next morning. We are obviously talking about Grand Marnier, for which he tells me that Canada is the second-largest market, and of course, about the new Cuv\u00e9e Louis-Alexandre, a product completely redesigned. \u201cThere are two questions (when you have a new version of a product), first of all, will people like the product and secondly, when you modify a product that already has an existence, There is always the risk of hearing: It was better before! For the moment, I have rather heard pleasant things. But what is systematic is that people prefer the (new) packaging. It\u2019s going in the right direction.\u201d He explained to me that it\u2019s been two and a half years, that he and his team are working on the product, and they left, to use his explanation, a blank page. They have given themselves only one constraint, whether it is a VSOP cognac, the goal being to put a progression (in the Grand Marnier range) as in cognacs. The new Louis-Alexandre is an 82 % VSOP cognac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Marnier Rebirth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----Barrels\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-Barrels.jpg\")
Mr. raguenaud with its barrels
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhile Grand Marnier was bought by Campari in 2016, a new advertising campaign was unveiled less than two years later, in 2018, with the slogan \u201cWe Live Grand,\u201d I asked Mr. Raguenaud the meaning of this term for Grand Marnier, was it the opening to the world? \u201cI think it was especially, it already has many meanings, what you say, yes, expand the base, we can go everywhere, an international product. Live Grand in terms of quality, in terms of image, we will go upmarket, we will explain the cognac and the price of the product. Live Grand, it\u2019s not a basic liqueur. We also Live Grand by the range, since we are structuring a much wider range and more contemporary presentation. It has a very broad meaning, and that\u2019s what\u2019s good. Everyone will interpret it in their own way.\u201d By the way, the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire will change its packaging a little (they will not change the liquid) and it\u2019s coming very soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Marnier et le temps des f\u00eates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Patrick-Raguenaud---Grand-Marnier----Tasting\"](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Patrick-Raguenaud-Grand-Marnier-Tasting.jpg\")
Tasting Time!
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt was in the context of the holiday season that I approached Mr. Raguenaud, how to look at the Grand Marnier, which is a festive drink, whether as a gift or at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, I think there are many ways, let\u2019s start with Louis-Alexandre, what we advise is to consume it with Champagne. A little Louis-Alexandre and the rest of Champagne and a small orange peel in the champagne flute in decoration. It\u2019s festive, it\u2019s very good. The festive side is real with Grand Marnier and Champagne. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s continue with the rest of the range, always for the holidays. \u201cWith the Cordon Rouge, we will be more about party-based cocktails, here we tried the Grand Sidecar, which is really good, it warms you up. Then with the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire, you can drink it all alone, during the winter season, warming your body and your mind. Our products, these great liqueurs, are products of conviviality that we will share with others. That\u2019s what\u2019s important, the social side, the communication around a good drink. For the guests, I always serve the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire, it\u2019s my favorite Cuv\u00e9e. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discover how to Celebrate with Grand Marnier during the holidays.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n ![\"Grand](\"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/A-Grand-Celebration-with-Grand-Marnier-Cover.jpg\")
\n Grand Marnier in SAQ<\/h2>\n VIEW THE SELECTION<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
What gives that orange tastes so specific to the Grand Marnier? It is the bitter orange, more precisely the orange bigarade. These are oranges that are not made to be eaten. When they are green, they are picked and cut by hand. Subsequently, they are dried in the sun, put in bags and transported in France in containers of 400 to 500 tons. They come either from Saint-Domingue in Haiti, Brazil, Paraguay or Tunisia, for the latter, they come from the same plants that use Hermes, which produces perfumes known for its citrus notes.<\/p>\n\n\n
Photo: Bicom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
It all started in 1827 when Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle, distiller of fine fruit liqueurs, built what would become the first Grand Marnier distillery in Neauphle-le-Ch\u00e2teau, a small town outside Paris. A few years later, in 1876, Julia, granddaughter of Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle, married Louis-Alexandre Marnier. The Marnier Lapostolle House was born. And in 1880, certainly inspired by his in-law, Louis-Alexandre Marnier had the eccentric idea of \u200b\u200bcombining a refined French cognac with a rare variety of bitter oranges from the Caribbean. It was the beginning of Grand Marnier. Remember those anecdotes where your parents told you they were receiving oranges at Christmas, orange was, at the time, a luxury product, and it\u2019s a little because of its presence in the Grand Marnier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The iconic bottle, Mr. Raguenaud told me, is inspired by the silhouette of a traditional cognac still\u2014the red ribbon and the wax seal added. These elements have become the signature of Cordon Rouge, still used today. With the complicity of C\u00e9sar Ritz, the product is quickly found in the largest hotels in the world starting with the Ritz Paris and the Savoy (we are talking about the Savoy in our article about Fairmont\u2019s Cocktails Perfected program<\/a>) and many others. The Ritz-Carlton of Montr\u00e9al where I made an interview with Patrick Raguenaud that you can read in the next lines is a <\/span>little more about the evolution of Grand Marnier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s in Le Grand Lounge that I join Patrick Raguenaud next morning. We are obviously talking about Grand Marnier, for which he tells me that Canada is the second-largest market, and of course, about the new Cuv\u00e9e Louis-Alexandre, a product completely redesigned. \u201cThere are two questions (when you have a new version of a product), first of all, will people like the product and secondly, when you modify a product that already has an existence, There is always the risk of hearing: It was better before! For the moment, I have rather heard pleasant things. But what is systematic is that people prefer the (new) packaging. It\u2019s going in the right direction.\u201d He explained to me that it\u2019s been two and a half years, that he and his team are working on the product, and they left, to use his explanation, a blank page. They have given themselves only one constraint, whether it is a VSOP cognac, the goal being to put a progression (in the Grand Marnier range) as in cognacs. The new Louis-Alexandre is an 82 % VSOP cognac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Grand Marnier was bought by Campari in 2016, a new advertising campaign was unveiled less than two years later, in 2018, with the slogan \u201cWe Live Grand,\u201d I asked Mr. Raguenaud the meaning of this term for Grand Marnier, was it the opening to the world? \u201cI think it was especially, it already has many meanings, what you say, yes, expand the base, we can go everywhere, an international product. Live Grand in terms of quality, in terms of image, we will go upmarket, we will explain the cognac and the price of the product. Live Grand, it\u2019s not a basic liqueur. We also Live Grand by the range, since we are structuring a much wider range and more contemporary presentation. It has a very broad meaning, and that\u2019s what\u2019s good. Everyone will interpret it in their own way.\u201d By the way, the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire will change its packaging a little (they will not change the liquid) and it\u2019s coming very soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was in the context of the holiday season that I approached Mr. Raguenaud, how to look at the Grand Marnier, which is a festive drink, whether as a gift or at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, I think there are many ways, let\u2019s start with Louis-Alexandre, what we advise is to consume it with Champagne. A little Louis-Alexandre and the rest of Champagne and a small orange peel in the champagne flute in decoration. It\u2019s festive, it\u2019s very good. The festive side is real with Grand Marnier and Champagne. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s continue with the rest of the range, always for the holidays. \u201cWith the Cordon Rouge, we will be more about party-based cocktails, here we tried the Grand Sidecar, which is really good, it warms you up. Then with the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire, you can drink it all alone, during the winter season, warming your body and your mind. Our products, these great liqueurs, are products of conviviality that we will share with others. That\u2019s what\u2019s important, the social side, the communication around a good drink. For the guests, I always serve the Cuv\u00e9e du Centenaire, it\u2019s my favorite Cuv\u00e9e. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover how to Celebrate with Grand Marnier during the holidays.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMeeting Patrick Raguenaud<\/h2>\n\n\n
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGrand Marnier Rebirth<\/h2>\n\n\n
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGrand Marnier et le temps des f\u00eates<\/h2>\n\n\n
Photo: Grand Marnier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Grand Marnier in SAQ<\/h2>\n VIEW THE SELECTION<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n