What is Cointreau?
Cointreau is a clear orange liqueur from Angers, France, made from sweet and bitter orange peels. It is 40 percent alcohol by volume (80 proof) and is used in cocktails like the Margarita, Cosmopolitan and Sidecar. It belongs to the triple sec style of orange liqueur.
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What type of alcohol is Cointreau?
Cointreau is an orange liqueur: a sweetened spirit flavored with orange peel. It is commonly described as a triple sec, a dry-style clear orange liqueur. It is made in Saint-Barthelemy-d’Anjou near Angers in the Loire Valley. The Cointreau company dates to 1849, when brothers Adolphe and Edouard-Jean Cointreau opened a distillery in Angers; the liqueur itself came later in the 19th century (sources give different years).
What is Cointreau made of?
The maker says it uses peels of sweet and bitter oranges, together with alcohol, sugar and water. It is colorless, not orange. The exact recipe is secret.
What is the alcohol percentage of Cointreau?
Standard Cointreau is 40 percent ABV, which is 80 proof in the United States. That is as strong as many spirits and stronger than most liqueurs, so measure it. Always check the label of your bottle, as strength can differ by market or flavor.
What does Cointreau taste like?
Bright, clean orange: sweet orange up front, a bitter orange finish and little syrupy heaviness. It tastes more like fresh peel than like candy.
How is Cointreau used?
- Cocktails: Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Sidecar, White Lady.
- Over ice or with a twist as an after-dinner drink.
- Baking and desserts: crepes, cakes, chocolate and fruit.
Cointreau vs Grand Marnier
| Cointreau | Grand Marnier | |
| Base | Neutral spirit with orange peel | Cognac with bitter orange |
| Color | Clear | Amber |
| Taste | Bright, sharp orange | Rounder, oaky, orange |
They can often be swapped, but the drink will taste a little different. Cheaper triple secs and orange curacao are often weaker and sweeter; check the labels.
How do you pronounce Cointreau?
Say it KWAHN-troh.
People also ask
What is the alcohol percentage of Cointreau?
Standard Cointreau is 40 percent ABV (80 proof). Check your bottle label.
What type of spirit is Cointreau?
It is an orange liqueur, in the triple sec style, made from sweet and bitter orange peels.
What color is Cointreau?
Cointreau is clear and colorless, not orange.
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