The history of Cordon Rouge is inextricably linked to that of Grand Marnier. One day, Louis-Alexandre had the inspiration to blend cognac, the finest of all spirits and the pride of southwestern France since the seventeenth century, with aromatic orange essence. He took more than a decade to create, improve, and refine the liqueur that the world would one day know as Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge liqueur. It was 1880 when the legend was born.