How is Cointreau made?

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According to a travel guide to the distillery, Cointreau is distilled only from orange peels, using both sweet and bitter varieties. The distillery is in Saint-Barthelemy-d’Anjou, near Angers in the Loire region.

The basic idea of an orange liqueur

Orange liqueurs generally combine orange peel flavor, alcohol and sugar. Peel oils carry the flavor, which is why peels, and not juice, are the focus. The liqueur itself is clear, even though the bottle is brown.

Short history

1849: Adolphe Cointreau founded the House of Cointreau.
1885: the company patented the brown, square bottle, which is still used.
1989: Cointreau and Remy Martin merged to form the Remy Cointreau group.

Treat these dates as approximate.

What is not public

The exact recipe, still types and peel ratios are trade secrets. Online claims about copper pot stills versus column stills conflict, so this page does not state a still type.

How to use it

Classic cocktails: margarita, cosmopolitan, sidecar.
Neat or over ice as an after-dinner drink.
In baking and desserts, for orange flavor.

Buying and storing

Check the label for alcohol content, which varies by product.
Store upright, away from heat and sunlight.
Orange liqueurs keep for a long time unopened; once opened, keep the cap tight and expect aroma to fade slowly.

General information. Drink responsibly.

If you are choosing between orange liqueurs, compare the label for alcohol content and sweetness, since styles differ between brands.

Drink	ABV	Unopened	Opened	Where to keep it	Source and date read
Kahlúa Original	20%	Maker: recommended 4 years (flavours 2 years, ready-to-drink 1 year). Stays good longer, the coffee flavour fades.	No fixed time. No fridge needed.	Cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight	Kahlúa FAQ (US), read 31 Oct 2026
Cointreau L'Unique	40%	Years. No expiry date. Keep upright, in the dark.	Maker: best within 2 years after opening. No expiry date.	Cool, dark, upright	Cointreau FAQ, Storage & care (US site), read 31 Oct 2026
Lillet Rouge	see label	Cool, dark place; consume within 2 years.	Store in the fridge and consume within 3 weeks.	Fridge once opened	Lillet Rouge page, read 2 Nov 2026
St-Germain elderflower liqueur	20%	No statement on the FAQ page.	Maker: consume within 6 months after opening. The colour may slowly change (natural oxidation).	Dry, cool space, away from bright light	St-Germain FAQ, How long does St-Germain last?, read 2 Nov 2026
Martini vermouth	15%	No statement on the guide page.	Refrigerate once opened. Keeps well about 1 month, then quality declines (oxidises).	Fridge once opened	Martini, A guide to vermouth, read 31 Oct 2026
Baileys Original Irish Cream	17%	No official statement.	No official statement. Check the bottle label or Diageo consumer service.	Check the label	Baileys product page (no official statement), read 31 Oct 2026

How is Cointreau made?

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