Grand Marnier @ Olives & Oil

Consumer and Trade education, Lecture and Cocktail tasting

Tuesday September 20, 2022

Have you elevated your cocktail game yet?  Learn how to make them Grand with the use of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge at Olives and Oil featuring light snacks, spirit & cocktail tastings.

Created in 1880, this Cognac based orange liqueur has been a staple on after-dinner drink lists for many years.  Now, it comes to the forefront of some of today’s most popular and trendy cocktails.  We’ll explore the Grand 75, Grand Margarita and Grand Old Fashioned utilizing it as a base spirit, modifier and split base ingredient.

About the Presenter: Growing up in Paris with roots in France’s Bordeaux region, Xavier’s fondest memories were around the table with family surrounded by delicious food, wines and, of course, Grand Marnier. So, it was not a surprise that he chose a career path that started with restaurant apprenticeships and included such mentors as chefs Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse. Xavier’s nearly lifelong career in hospitality began as a teen working in restaurants and accepted an apprenticeship as a young man. But Xavier found his real home and his voice behind the bar. Upon arriving in New York in 2003, Xavier’s skills as a bartender were harnessed at Alain Ducasse’s much-anticipated Mix in New York restaurant. From Mix in New York, Xavier continued his career at Daniel, where he spent nearly seven years as head bartender and co-authored “Daniel Boulud Cocktails and Amuse Bouches for Him and Her.” At Daniel, he learned how to balance the demand for perfect service with making customers feel comfortable. It was also a time when his cocktail creations were heavily inspired by seasons as well as the food and ingredients coming out the kitchen. Xavier went on to continue to define cocktail trends at the Experimental Cocktail Club, his own bar Wallflower, and the innovative program at NoMo Soho Hotel. Today, as Brand Ambassador for Grand Marnier, Xavier is reintroducing this luxury French liqueur with its base of high-quality Cognac to a new generation of spirit and cocktail enthusiasts. Leveraging his knowledge of the French region and its history together with his understanding of the mechanics of creating cocktails, and owning and running a bar, Xavier crisscrosses the country to educate restaurant and bar teams. He is based in New York City.

Follow Xavier on Insta @djcordonrouge

All ticket sales for this seminar will be donated to ALL OUR KIN.