Cointreau
Premium French triple sec — clear orange liqueur with balanced sweetness.
Cointreau is a clear orange liqueur (triple sec) produced in Angers, France, since 1875. It is made by macerating sweet and bitter orange peels in a neutral grain spirit, then redistilling. Cointreau is the rare triple sec that bartenders agree on across every classic book — clean, balanced, precise. A Margarita made with Cointreau tastes like a Margarita; one made with cheap triple sec tastes like syrup. The Sidecar and Cosmopolitan also depend on Cointreau's clarity.
History
Édouard Cointreau developed the liqueur in the 1870s. The octagonal bottle and the crystal-clear formula were innovations — most orange liqueurs of the era were dark, heavy curaçaos.
Common uses
Margarita, Sidecar, Cosmopolitan, Corpse Reviver #2.
Cocktails that use Cointreau
- Margarita — The perfect balance of tequila, lime, and orange liqueur
- Corpse Reviver #2 — Equal parts gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon, and an absinthe rinse
- Cosmopolitan — Citrus vodka, Cointreau, cranberry, and lime — pink and sophisticated
- Sidecar — Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice with a sugared rim — Parisian elegance
Substitutes
- Triple Sec — Cheaper and thinner; works in a pinch.
- Orange Curaçao — Richer and darker — changes the drink's character.