A family story: the history of the GRAND MARNIER� brand began in 1827 with the founding of a distillery in Neauphle-le-Ch�teau by Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle. It rapidly gained an outstanding reputation for its high-quality eaux-de-vie. Business really took off under Eug�ne Lapostolle, the son and successor of the company�s founder. In 1870 he discovered the Cognac region, from where he brought back a substantial stock of very old eaux-de-vie.

In 1880, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, Eug�ne�s son-in-law, chose to show off the organoleptic richness of his cognac supply by blending it with a fruit that was rare and precious at the time, the exotic Citrus bigaradia orange. This original combination of Caribbean exoticism and the tradition of French �terroir� gave birth to a liqueur that brought the company the success that it continues to enjoy today.

Worldwide success Originally given the name �Cura�ao Marnier�, the liqueur was later given its definitive name, �GRAND MARNIER��, by C�sar Ritz, an influential hotelier and friend to Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle. In the beginning, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle himself was responsible for sales and promotion in France and abroad. C�sar Ritz supported him by introducing the liqueur at the Savoy in London where it was met with immediate and immense success. GRAND MARNIER� liqueur quickly became a classic, winning over men in high places who enjoyed it neat, on ice or in cocktails.

The Austrian emperor Franz Joseph, enchanted by its taste, immediately ordered several cases of the liqueur to serve at his receptions. Once, when the Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII, was passing through Paris, he was offered a GRAND MARNIER�-flavoured cr�pe by the famous chef Escoffier. This cr�pe was named Suzette after one of the Prince�s French friends and has since become one of the great classics of French gastronomy. All of the big European and American cities were won over by the taste and charm of GRAND MARNIER� liqueur which won numerous medals at the 1889 and 1900 Paris World�s Fairs.

A heritage of perfection An incontestable classic, GRAND MARNIER� liqueur has preserved its identity, notably its inimitable and specially shaped bottle. Consumers worldwide recognize it at a glance; its characteristic roundness evokes the silhouette of the traditional copper Cognac still. Its seal and red ribbon guarantee the quality and luxury of the product. Finally, the gothic lettering of the name and the laid paper label refer to the excellence and unmatched expertise of Soci�t� des Produits Marnier-Lapostolle.

The House celebrated its centenary in 1927 with the creation of the Cuv�e du Centenaire. This unique product was unveiled at a reception given by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle in an equally unique setting, the family villa, �les C�dres�, at Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera.

Fifty years later, in 1977, Louis-Alexandre�s grandson, Jacques Marnier Lapostolle, created a new special cuvee, exemplifying the quintessence of the know-how and prestigious heritage of GRAND MARNIER� -- the Cuv�e du Cent Cinquantenaire.

In addition to these two extraordinary cuvees, another singular spirit was added in 1998. GRAND MARNIER� Louis-Alexandre honours the creator of GRAND MARNIER� liqueur. This special creation was inspired by one of his favourite rituals -- adding a drop of cognac to his liqueur.