What’s the best way to make a margarita? We’re here for all the margarita variations: fruity, sweet, spicy, and smoky. But one of our top ways to add a little class? The Grand Marnier Margarita. Also called the Cadillac, this variation uses top-shelf everything: tequila reposado for nuanced, aged flavor, Cointreau for the orange perfume, and Grand Marnier for notes of vanilla and oak. There’s so much flavor, you might just make this your regular margarita…period.
Ingredients in a Grand Marnier margarita
The margarita is one of the most classic cocktails there is, invented back in the 1930s. This popular sour is on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, meaning there’s an “official” definition. The classic margarita is just tequila, Cointreau (or triple sec), and lime juice. This Grand Marnier margarita simply floats the top-shelf liquor right on top! Here’s what you’ll need:
TequilaLime juiceCointreau orange liqueurGrand Marnier
What if you don’t have Cointreau? That’s ok too. You can make a Grand Marnier margarita by simply using Grand Marnier in place of Cointreau in the recipe below (then skip the floating!).
What’s Grand Marnier? How is it different from Cointreau?
Grand Marnier is a brand of French liqueurs, best known for the bottle Cordon Rouge (Cordon Rouge means “red ribbon”). This French orange liqueur is a mixture of Triple Sec and Cognac, which makes it taste more rich and complex than other orange liqueurs. Its flavor is like an orange-flavored brandy, with notes of vanilla and oak. What’s the difference vs Cointreau? Well, Cointreau is also an orange liqueur. It has a smoother flavor than Grand Marnier, and it’s more commonly used in classic cocktails. Grand Marnier is slightly more expensive with an even more complex flavor, a blend of Triple Sec and Cognac.
Why to use tequila reposado
You can use any type of tequila in your Grand Marnier margarita! But we like using tequila reposado or aged tequila. Why?
Tequila reposado is aged tequila, which is stored from 2 to 12 months. It has a nuanced flavor, with notes of oak and vanilla. Reposado pairs well with the oak and vanilla notes of the Grand Marnier! Tequila blanco is un-aged, and has a more straightforward flavor and that signature tequila burn. If all you have is tequila blanco, you can use that too!
How to make a Grand Marnier margarita: single drink
The Grand Marnier margarita is like any other margarita: make a salt rim, stir or shake up the ingredients, and serve! But you’ll need the final touch: floating Grand Marnier on top. Here are the basic steps (or go right to he recipe):
Or, make a margarita pitcher!
Do you want to serve a crowd with this Grand Marnier margarita? You can make a pitcher instead! With the pitcher method, you can substitute Grand Marnier for the Cointreau you’ll need to add a specific amount of ice to dilute the drinks to the right level. For a Grand Marnier margarita pitcher that serves 8, add:
1 ½ cups tequila1 cup Cointreau1 cup lime juice3 handfuls ice1 cup Grand Marnier, for the float (optionally, simply substitute it in place of the Cointreau)
Add the ice and stir until cold. Pour into individual glasses. When serving, add the Grand Marnier float on top (1 ounce per drink or 2 tablespoons). That’s it! Let us know what you think of this tasty cocktail in the comments below. Do you prefer it to the classic marg?
More margarita recipes
We’ve made more margaritas than we can count! Here are all our favorite margarita recipes to try:
Go for the absolute Classic Margarita Opt for Skinny MargaritaGo icy with a Frozen Margarita Choose spicy or smoky with Jalapeño Margarita or Mezcal MargaritaExplore fruity flavors with Strawberry, Pineapple, Mango, Pomegranate, Watermelon, Orange, Cranberry, Peach, Blood Orange, Blue, Cucumber, Cucumber Jalapeno, or Grapefruit Margarita
When to serve a Grand Marnier margarita
The Grand Marnier margarita is built to impress! It works as a:
Happy hour drinkDinner party drinkLate night drinks drinkGuys or girls night drinkCocktail hour drink
5 from 1 review
