Cointreau Cocktails
7 drinks with this bottle, from the easy ones up.
What goes with Cointreau?
Fresh lime or lemon. Cointreau brings the sweetness and the orange to a sour drink, so it's the backbone of the Margarita with tequila and lime, the Sidecar with brandy and lemon, and the Cosmopolitan with vodka, cranberry and lime. For something easy, pour it over ice with soda and a squeeze of lime.
What does it taste like?
Clean, bright orange with a warm alcohol kick. It tastes more like fresh peel than orange candy.
Which bottle should I buy?
There's only one Cointreau, and it's a mid-priced bottle. It goes a long way, because most drinks use about an ounce or less.
Goes well with
A clear French orange liqueur made from sweet and bitter orange peels in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, near Angers. It's a specific brand of triple sec, bottled at 40% ABV. Use Combier or another strong triple sec, or Grand Marnier if you're fine with a cognac edge.
Questions
Is Cointreau the same as triple sec?
Cointreau is a triple sec, but not every triple sec is Cointreau. It's a specific French brand at 40% ABV, while generic triple secs are often weaker and sweeter.
Is Cointreau the same as Grand Marnier?
No. Both are French orange liqueurs at 40% ABV, but Cointreau is clear and built on neutral spirit, while Grand Marnier is amber and built on cognac. Cointreau tastes brighter, and Grand Marnier tastes richer.
Can you drink Cointreau neat?
Yes, though it's 40% ABV, so sip it. Plenty of ice and a squeeze of lime make it easier going.
One good drink, every Friday.
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