Grand Marnier"s origins date back to 19th century France. Bitter orange peels are added to a cognac brandy base along with spices and vanilla. It is then sweetened with a sugar syrup to produce an orange-flavored liqueur and aged in oak barrels to mellow the liqueur before bottling. Grand Marnier boasts of being the first liqueur to be exported from France. This liqueur is amber in color with a distinct orange flavor which lends itself to many cooking applications.