Grand Marnier vs. Cointreau

I don’t drink much outside of beer and wine (wine is my main thing – I have a pretty decent cellar). But every once in a while I get in the mood for something else. I thought I had some Cointreau lingering in the back cabinet, but it turns out I was actually thinking of a bottle of Grand Marnier. The liquor store isn’t open today (state run liquor stores, official holiday), so I’m stuck with what I have.

Are the two somewhat interchangeable in cocktail recipes? It’s been years since I’ve had Cointreau, but from a quick sip of the Grand Marnier it seems sweeter than I remember Cointreau being. Is that accurate, or is my memory faulty?

They’re reasonably interchangeable, particularly if the liquor store is closed. Grand Marnier is based more on cognac, so it has a “heavier” taste than Cointreau. In general, however, classic cocktails call for Cointreau since the flavor profile tends to pair better with other spirits.