Grand Marnier unveils a range of exceptional cuvées
Quintessence offers the highest expression of Grand Marnier in a brilliant, bespoke Baccarat decanter
PARIS, February 10, 2022 /CNW/ – Grand Marnier announces the launch of its Exceptional Range, starting with the launch of one of the two rare Grandes Cuvées: Quintessence. This exquisite spirit pays homage to the liquor’s exalted history and showcases the highest expressions of the iconic French Maison, demonstrating how the most complex flavors can be derived from the seemingly simplest combinations: cognac, essence of orange, wood and time.
Quintessence is a tribute to the origins of Grand Marnier, a masterpiece elevating the blend of cognac and bigaradia orange to its ultimate expression. It showcases the rarest and oldest aged cognacs. Each has been exclusively selected from Great Champagne and carefully aged in Paradis, the personal reserves of the Marnier Lapostolle family cellar. Raguenaud then added the finest Bigaradia orange peels, double distilled to ensure flavor intensity, drawing on instincts honed during his nearly two decades at home. This careful double distillation and meticulous work results in a rich and unctuous vintage liquid, with dried fruit facets of apricot and walnut, underlined by a warm base of black vanilla.
Inspired by luxury and distinction, Grand Marnier was founded in 1880, when Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle began to stir Citrus Bigaradia, the aromatic bitter orange – a rare treasure in Europe with fine French cognac. By mixing cognac with citrus essence, he established a way to preserve a captivating yet fleeting scent that gave permanence to a passing sensory impression.
Citrus Bigaradia continues to delight and inspire Grand Marnier makers today, including historic master blender Patrick Raguenaud who turned to the House archives when creating Quintessence. There he found an old recipe where Bigaradia orange was macerated in Cognac and used it to create Quintessence.
Grand Cuvée Quintessence is the very essence of the exceptional. The quality of the liquid is complemented by a handcrafted decanter by Baccarat, inspired by the iconic original bottle of Grand Marnier made centuries ago. Like a perfect loop, the two historic brand houses have come together once again to rekindle their timeless passion for French excellence.
Made by Baccarat’s master craftsmen, each decanter is unique and mouth-blown at 1450 degrees. It presents a hypnotic and endless twist that plunges into the unequaled elegance of the rarest cognac adorned with a handmade stopper.
An exclusive collection that will only be available in 2022 at fine retailers in select markets, only 1,000 bottles will be available worldwide in the first year.
“It’s a rare experience to drink this, even to imagine that this kind of cognac is rare. The sensation, the sensation, the perception of what you smell, it’s unforgettable,” Raguenaud said. “When you mix for Quintessence, you mix a legacy.”
Grand Marnier Revelation reveals the aromatic power of the rare XXO Cognacs
In parallel, Grand Marnier will also launch Révélation – the prestigious expression of the emblematic French house, with the most avant-garde taste of cognac. XXO de Révélation cognacs come exclusively from the elite Great Champagne vintage, perfectly aged at the prestigious Château Grand Marnier in Bourg-Charente. The final blend of cognac and essence of Bigaradia rests in oak vats for several months, letting the “alchemy” take over.
With just a hint of Bigaradia essence, classic sweetness is subdued, while the very soul of the spirit – earthy vanilla, fresh floral essences and warming almond – are heightened. It exhibits a complicated balance: with no sweet flavor elements to determine consistency, Master Blender Raguenaud is heavily reliant on its nose.
Extremely subtle, Grande Cuvée Révélation highlights vanilla and dried fruits – apricots, walnuts – before revealing complex notes on its long finish. Fresh and round bitter orange pairs perfectly with this remarkable Cognac to create an intriguing and lasting encounter.
For the sensory journey of the Grandes Cuvées, Grand Marnier called on a French perfumer Marie Le Febvre explore the limits of olfactory perception and aroma identification. The olfactory expertise she has honed over years of fragrance development proves invaluable in understanding spirits and explaining why Grand Marnier offers such a compelling organoleptic experience.
“Grand Marnier is a spirit, but it is inherently constructed as a perfume. It follows the classic perfume construction,” explains Febvre.
The two exceptional cuvées will be launched on certain markets and will be sold at retail for $3,000 (quintessence) and $700 (Revelation).
*Only Quintessence is packaged in a Baccarat decanter.
ABOUT THE CAMPARI GROUP
The Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spread across global, regional and local priorities. Global priorities, the main focus of the group, include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier. The Group was founded in 1860 and is today the world’s sixth largest player in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, marketing in over 190 countries worldwide with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. The Group’s growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through a strong brand dynamic and external growth through selective acquisitions of brands and activities.
Based at Milan, Italy, Campari Group has 22 factories worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries. The Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of parent company Davide Campari-Milano NV (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.
For more information: www.camparigroup.com
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SOURCE Campari Group
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