Grand Marnier Celebrates the Moonwalk

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s 1969 famous walk on the moon.  NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has documented five of the six Apollo moon landing sites with recent photos posted on the NASA website.  The Apollo 12 landing site is expected to come into view within the next few weeks, so look for that on the NASA site soon. 

The photos are not extremely detailed as up close and personal photos are of the original walk on the moon from so long ago, but they are fascinating!  As the NASA website aptly states, “Although these pictures provide a reminder of past NASA exploration, LRO’s primary focus is paving the way for the future.”  LRO’s purpose is to continue the efforts of lunar exploration.  By studying the past, future technology advances.  We may look at history with a view to stirring memories of good times and the way things were or may have been.  At times we often use historical moments in time as grounds for celebration.  No doubt NASA celebrates today as well. 

Grand Marnier enjoys a little moonlit celebration today, too.  This illustrious liqueur was used in the first cocktail the astronauts enjoyed upon landing back on earth.  Joe Gilmore, head barman at the Savoy Hotel in London, created the Moonwalk to commemorate the first moon landing. 

The Moonwalk

1 part Grand Marnier

1 part fresh grapefruit juice

2 dashes Rosewater

Moët & Chandon (top with)

Shake ingredients well and strain into a wine glass. Top up with Moët & Chandon.

More information about NASA and the LRO photos may be found here.  LRO photos credited to: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University.  Moon landing photos credited to NASA.  A great read on the behind the scenes moonwalk: What we didn’t know about the moonwalk by Jay Barbree NBC News Correspondent.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

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