Grand Marnier announces the debut of its Exceptional Range, starting with the launch of one of two rare Grand Cuvees: Quintessence. It pays tribute to the brand’s rich history and the iconic French Maison and showcases how sumptuous flavours can be derived from the rarest and oldest hors d’âge Cognacs and orange essence.
It showcases the rarest and oldest hors d’âge Cognacs. Each was exclusively selected from Grande 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 an intensity of flavors, drawing upon instincts honed from his nearly two decades at the house. This painstaking double-distillation and careful work yields a rich, smooth vintage liquid, with dry fruits facets of apricot and walnut, underlined by a warm dark vanilla base.
Grand Cuvée Quintessence comes presented in a handmade decanter by Baccarat’s masterful artisans, each decanter is unique and mouth blown at 1450 degrees. It features a hypnotic, never-ending twist that plunges into the unrivalled elegance of the rarest cognac adorned with a hand-made stopper, reminiscent of the iconic original bottle of Grand Marnier from centuries ago.
In parallel, Grand Marnier will also launch Révélation – the prestige expression of the iconic French house, with the most cognac-forward taste. Révélation’s XXO cognacs come exclusively from the distinguished Grande Champagne cru, perfectly aged at the prestigious Chateau Grand Marnier in Bourg-Charente. The final assemblage of cognac and Bigaradia essence rests in oak tanks over several months, allowing ‘alchemy’ to take over.
With only a dash of Bigaradia essence, the classic sweetness is curbed, while the very soul of the spirit – earthy vanilla, fresh floral essences, and warming almond – is heightened. It presents a complicated balance: without sweet flavor elements to determine consistency, Master Blender Raguenaud is heavily reliant on his nose.
A total of 1,000 bottles of Grand Cuvée Quintessence will be available worldwide this year, available at fine spirits retailers in select global markets, price at £2,200 or US$3,000. Only 23 bottles of Révélation are being made available to the UK market, priced at £650 ($700) each. Discover Opulent Club on Apple News.