What Is Cointreau and How Can You Use It?

If you've sipped on a margarita or a cosmopolitan, chances are you've tasted Cointreau. But what is this orange liqueur made of, and how is it crafted?

What Exactly Is Cointreau?

Cointreau is a premium triple sec — a strong, sweet, and colorless orange liqueur — created in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France.

It serves as both an apéritif and digestif (a drink enjoyed before or after meals), and is a key ingredient in several classic cocktails, such as the margarita, sidecar, and cosmopolitan.

This iconic liqueur, created in the 1870s and popularized after the 1889 World's Fair, is crafted from a blend of sweet and bitter orange peels and alcohol derived from sugar beets.

Cointreau has an 80-proof strength, equating to 40% ABV.

Cointreau vs. Grand Marnier

Both Cointreau and Grand Marnier are French-made orange liqueurs, originating in the 19th century, and both feature a 40% ABV.

Despite these similarities, there are a few key differences between the two:

Cointreau is crafted from a blend of sweet and bitter oranges and undergoes a double distillation process. It offers a vibrant, fresh orange flavor and is typically not aged.

Grand Marnier, on the other hand, is made with a single variety of bitter orange and includes cognac. Its taste is richer, sweeter, and more complex with an oakier finish. Due to its use of fine brandy, Grand Marnier is aged.

Cointreau's lighter profile makes it a more adaptable ingredient for cocktails compared to Grand Marnier. However, you can swap one for the other in a pinch—just be sure to use a bit more Cointreau to compensate for its milder intensity.