Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/1/2009

Question
I have a bottle of Creme de Grand Marnier liqueur that appears to be solid--not liquefied.  Is there a shelf life for this liqueur and if so what is it.  Can it be used in this state?  thanks

Answer
Hi Sherry

The cream in Creme liqueurs is not as stable as most distilled products, and it sounds as if yours has become a bit too old.  If you recently purchased it, I would return it to the store where you bought it, and request a refund or replacement.  If it's an old bottle, I think it is best tossed out in the trash.  While the alcohol level in these bottles is quite high, yours sounds as if it has gone through a transformation that isn't what the producer expected. It may have become too warm at some point, which would have altered the chemical makeup of the contents.

You could email the company itself and see what they say. Here is a link to the site:

http://www.grand-marnier.com/dispatch.php

Hope that helps

Paul Wagner