It’s been five decades since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first human beings to land on the moon. To mark the historic moment that occurred on July 20, 1969, global French liqueur brand Grand Marnier is celebrating the historic “Moonwalk” cocktail inspired by Amstrong and Aldrin’s lunar journey.
In 1969, Joe Gilmore, head barman of the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar, invented the drink to commemorate the astronauts’ return from their successful mission. The classic cocktail — made of Marnier’s cognac and bitter orange-flavored liqueur, champagne and more — is said to have been the first beverage they sipped upon their homecoming.
“The cocktail was a mix of grapefruit juice, Grand Marnier, champagne and rose water,” he explained to Wonderland in 2008. “The Savoy sent it off in a flask and I received a letter back from Neil Armstrong thanking us and saying it was the first drink they had when they came out of quarantine.”
In honor of the 50th anniversary, we’re sharing the classic “Moonwalk” recipe for you to enjoy from the comfort of your home today and for years to come. Scroll down for more details and relive the historic moment in the video below.
Bonus: We’ve added four more Grand Marnier cocktail recipes for the French holiday, Bastille Day (July 14). À votre santé (Cheers)!