Love orange liqueur? Use our Grand Marnier recipe to make your very own right at home.
Instructions
1
Prep the peel
2
Start by washing the fruit. Remove the peel in long, thick strips. You'll only be using the peels for this recipe, so feel free to snack on the fruit while you work.
3
Steep the citrus
4
Place the peels in a large jar and cover with the cognac and vodka. Cover and shake well. Let the mixture stand for two weeks, but be sure to give it a little shake each day. This method is common for infusing spirits of all kinds. Editor's Tip: Don't cheat yourself with the base spirits when making homemade liqueurs like this one. That means picking up cognac and vodka you'd be happy to stock in your home bar—nothing too fancy, but not the cheap stuff either.
5
The next step is to strain the peel from the liquid. Pour the mix into a cheesecloth-lined colander. Repeat the process using a coffee filter to remove any finer particles. Set the liquid aside. Discard the citrus peels. After steeping in alcohol for weeks, the flavor has been fully extracted, and these remnants aren't good for much. Toss them or pop them in your compost bin.
6
Add sweetness
7
The last step is to add a bit of sweetness to the liqueur. Heat sugar and water in a saucepan until boiling. Then, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Cool this simple syrup completely. Lastly, add the cooled syrup to the liqueur. From there, you can serve or store in a cool, dry place for up to two months.
