RIMBAUDIEN SUPERMAN

Folder:

I can still remember my first experience with Grand Marnier. This goes back about two decades. It goes back to a time before I was legally allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. I was hanging out with a friend and we decided to raid his parents liquor cabinet. That led us to a bottle of Grand Marnier. This consumption came after already drinking a decent amount of beer.

The orange was very distinctive in the aroma and the flavor which made it very easy for two people to kick an entire bottle. Suffice to say, it was a debilitating experience. I ended up getting sick and damaging a carpet. That pretty much kept me away from the stuff for several years.

About eight or nine years after this incident, the same friend gave me a bottle of Grand Marnier for a Christmas present. When I saw the bottle, my mind immediately recalled that eventful first time out. I was a little hesitant to actually open the bottle again. Finally, I did and I discovered that it's actually pretty wonderful stuff when not abused. The days of thinking that I am some kind of Rimbaudien Superman are long since gone.

That brings us to the present. I have enjoyed several bottles of the stuff over the years but hadn't had it in awhile. My 40th birthday just recently passed and the same said friend provided me with yet another bottle of Grand Marnier. I had to smile when I open the package to discover the bottle. I knew what I had to do.

Luckily, the bottle escaped abuse on party night so the liquor could be savored and enjoyed in a more appropriate manner. While one can enjoy doing shots of Grand Marnier, I would recommend drinking some from a snifter and savoring the flavor. Too many shots might hit harder than a Zidane head butt so take it easy.

This liquor is brewed in Paris, France. It was first brewed in 1827 by Marnier-Lapostolle. From what I have read, this is the biggest selling French liqueur. It is pricy but it's also some mighty fine stuff. It weighs in at 80 proof. It's made by blending cognac with the essence of wild tropical oranges.

I hear and read about its versatility in mixed drinks but I have only ever consumed it neat or on ice. It seems too good to be diluted in a mixed drink. I poured some neat. I noticed that it had a light orange/amber hue. The aroma of orange is instantly detectable. One will also pick up the liquor scent in the nose.

This is a sticky and sweet drink but it is sinfully delightful. The orange is very distinctive in the flavor. There is a bit of cognac in the finish. It can be a little thick but it doesn't coat the mouth too much. There is little burn with this drink. It goes down smooth for an 80 proof liqueur. I guess that might be appealing to some drinkers but it also mandates caution. Not tasting liquor is conducive to overdoing it.

There is something very special about sipping this liquor while watching a late night movie. I prefer Grand Marnier in the winter time but it can still be enjoyed any time of year. This is a great belly warmer when coming in on a nippy winter night. It's also great to sip while sitting on the porch on a summer evening enjoying a radiant sunset. This is a very aesthetically pleasing liquor. Even as a diehard beer man, I do have a deep appreciation for this magnificent liqueur.