Cointreau
A 40% French orange liqueur and a staple in the Margarita, Cosmopolitan and Sidecar. Here you'll learn how it tastes, what sets it apart from other triple secs, which varieties are available and what glass to drink it from.
What is Cointreau? The liqueur behind the great classics
Cointreau is a triple sec, a clear, dry orange liqueur. Since 1875, it has been made in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, near Angers, according to Édouard Cointreau's recipe. They distill an infusion of sweet and bitter orange peels and add sugar and water until the bottle reaches 40% ABV.
Many other orange liqueurs are colored and syrupy. The French orange liqueur Cointreau is colorless and far less sweet. That means it brings balance to a cocktail, not a sugar overload. That's how it found its way into the original recipes for the Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Sidecar and White Lady. The square brown bottle with the red ribbon has looked the same for well over a hundred years.
In brief
What types of Cointreau are there?
Cointreau
The original. Dry, bright and full of orange peel. This is the triple sec bartenders reach for as standard.
Cointreau Noir
Cointreau blended with Rémy Martin cognac. Warmer and deeper, with notes of orange, vanilla and nuts.
Cointreau Spicy
Orange with the warmth of jalapeño and chili. Made for a Spicy Margarita that needs nothing extra.
Cointreau 35 cl
Same liqueur, smaller bottle. Enough for a generous evening of Margaritas.
Cointreau miniature
A miniature bottle that makes exactly two cocktails. A nice little gift or a fun way to taste it.
If you're not sure, go for regular Cointreau. It works in every cocktail.
Fresh and dry, full of orange peel
Fresh orange peel
Bright and bold. Sweet orange, a little bitter peel, and a hint of floral notes in the background.
Sweet start, dry middle
It starts sweet, then the bitter peel takes over. Lots of flavor without becoming syrupy, and you can clearly taste the 40% alcohol.
Long and slightly bitter
The orange lingers and finishes dry and slightly bitter. That's exactly what a cocktail needs.
This is what regular Cointreau tastes like. Noir is warmer and woodier thanks to the cognac, while Spicy gets its kick from jalapeño.
Three ways to drink Cointreau
Cointreau liqueur is most often enjoyed in cocktails. It's also great neat or as a long drink. Just keep it chilled.
Cointreau on the rocks
Pour 50 ml of Cointreau over plenty of ice in a tumbler and add a wedge of lime or orange. The liqueur turns milky and cloudy over ice. That's how it's meant to be.
Glass: tumbler →Cointreau Fizz
Pour 50 ml of Cointreau, the juice of half a lime, and 100 ml of sparkling water into a highball glass full of ice. This is Cointreau's own house recipe. Fresh, light, and easy.
Glass: highball glass →In a cocktail
In the Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Sidecar, and White Lady, Cointreau balances sweet and sour. Serve these cocktails well chilled in a coupe or margarita glass.
Go to the cocktails ↓The best cocktails with Cointreau
Margarita
Tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice, shaken and served in a glass with a salted rim. The ultimate Cointreau cocktail.
Cosmopolitan
Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime in a martini glass. The original contains Cointreau, not cheap triple sec.
Sidecar
Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice in a coupe with a sugared rim. A classic from the 1920s.
White Lady
Gin, Cointreau, and lemon juice. A little egg white makes it silky smooth.The right Cointreau glass
For a Margarita, grab a margarita glass. Serve a Sidecar or White Lady in a coupe, a Cosmo in a martini glass, and an on-the-rocks drink in a tumbler. These are the glasses we use ourselves.
Questions about Cointreau
Didn't find your question? Check out our cocktail recipes or send us a message.
Go to the cocktail recipes →What is the alcohol percentage in Cointreau?
What's the difference between Cointreau and triple sec?
What's the difference between Cointreau and Grand Marnier?
Why does Cointreau turn cloudy with ice?
Can you drink Cointreau neat?
How long does an opened bottle of Cointreau keep?
Buy Cointreau
Want the bottle delivered straight to your home? Order Cointreau online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
