One classic option is a simple mix of French brandy and orange juice. This will give you a light and refreshing drink that’s perfect for a summer day. Lillet was first created in 1887 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. The wine was originally made with Bordeaux wine, quinine, and orange peel. However, over the years the recipe has been tweaked and changed, and today’s Lillet is a blend of wine, brandy, fruit liqueurs, and herbs. Was Napoleon an orange liqueur man? My sources say he drank Burgundy and Cognac — like a good Frenchman should — so how would he feel about an orange liqueur being sold in his name? Well, guess what: This liqueur was made especially for Napoleon Bonaparte, and wasn’t offered to sale to the public until 1892. Mandarines and tangerines were introduced to Europe in the early 1800s, and were considered exotic fruits with medicinal qualities. It became fashionable to infuse the fruits in cognac and to drink the results. Napoleon was himself partial to such drinks and frequently invited one of its greatest exponents, Antoine-Francois du Fourcroy, to indulge in the beverage. It is said to be Fourcroy's formula with which Napoleon wooed his favourite actress, Mlle Mars.

Orange liqueurs are not all the same and can taste very different from Cointreau. An orange liqueur distilled from sugar cane or sugar beets will taste more similar to Cointreau than ones that use other bases. However, cheaper ones like Bols may taste like little more than slightly flavored sugar water. Orange extract is a popular Cointreau alternative for non-alcoholic drinks and to add to Cointreau-based desserts as a non-alcoholic version. The drink or dessert still gets a flavor infusion of orange without the alcoholic side effects. The macerated strong alcohol is distilled in Arnold Holstein copper pot stills to obtain a concentrate, or as we call it, a distillate. We only use the finest middle part, the heart of the distillation. The first part, the head of the distillation is volatile and the flavor is unstable. The last part of the distillation, the tail is due to levels of methanol that occur at the end of a distillation process. If you’re looking for a unique liqueur to add to your bar lineup, Galliano is a good option. This Italian liqueur is made with herbs, spices, and vanilla, and it has a distinct flavor that can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with other drinks. No matter what you choose, we’re sure you’ll enjoy mixing French brandy with some of your favorite drinks. What does Mandarine Napoleon taste like?Different triple secs have different flavor profiles, depending on which types of orange peels they use and other proprietary differences. Some are sweeter, while others have different citrus tastes. Grand Marnier is a French brand of cognac-based liqueurs. The most popular is an orange liqueur called Cordon Rouge (“Red Ribbon”) that has been around since Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle created it in 1880. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge blends cognac brandy, distilled bitter orange essence, and sugar. Interestingly, it was originally called Curacao Marnier. Flavor Comparison: Orange liqueur is a catch-all term for a whole bevy of orange-flavored liqueurs. These include triple secs like Cointreau and other liqueurs we’ve already mentioned like Curacao and Grand Marnier. However, you can also find unique orange liqueurs to try. Flavor Comparison:

Cointreau is actually a type of triple sec liqueur, so triple sec is the most obvious choice for Cointreau substitutions. Triple secs got their start in 1834 in France, and the Cointreau brand first made their famous triple sec 41 years later in 1875. A courageous blend with an extra touch of finesse. The distillate is blended with Grande Champagne XO Cognac. Only 2000 bottles of Mandarine Napoléon Grande Réserve XO are produced on a yearly base. The bottle is an exclusive handmade carafe.An ethereal or essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. An oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. The mandarin peels and oils are steeped in strong alcohol to extract the essential oils, aromas and key taste elements. This is what is called the maceration. There’s just one Curacao distillery on the island of Curacao today, Senior & Co., which has been around since 1896. They claim to be the only company still using lahara for their Curacao liqueur. The Bols distillery started making their Curacao drink the same year as Senior & Co., releasing a blue-dyed curacao in 1912. Flavor Comparison: Curacao’s base is the dried peel of an inedible bitter orange called laraha, which grows on the Dutch island of Curacao, just north of Venezuela. The Dutch originally macerated the peels in brandy, but the current producers usually use sugar cane alcohol. Curacao can be a fun substitute for Cointreau in drinks in equal quantities, especially when using the blue version because it can change the drink from its ordinary color. Margaritas, cosmopolitans, sidecars, long island ice teas, and kamikazes turn colors ranging from electric ice blue to island sea green or even purple. No matter how you choose to enjoy Galliano, it’s sure to add a touch of elegance to any drink. What mixes well with French brandy?

Orange extract gives drinks and desserts an orange flavor without the sugar or alcoholic content of Cointreau. Best Substitute For: You can also use Mandarine Napoleon in recipes. It is a great addition to desserts and other recipes. Did you know it’s the only liqueur in the world made with natural mandarins? Only the freshest mandarin peels from Sicily (Italy) are being used — a very fine peel with a very little pith. The result is an abundance of zest. The Mandarine Napoleon is a type of orange that is typically seedless and has a very sweet and juicy taste. It is a hybrid citrus fruit that is a cross between a mandarin and a navel orange. You may want to experiment with how much you want to add to bring it up to the same orange level as Cointreau. However, a good start is 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract per shot of Cointreau.While they’re both orange-flavored liqueurs, Grand Marnier and Cointreau have different flavor profiles. Cointreau has a cleaner and more pure orange flavor, while Grand Marnier has a more complex orange flavor that includes vanilla and hints of oak. Like Cointreau, it’s a common digestif. However, it’s also popular as a cordial, in mixed drinks, and in desserts.