Orange liqueurs have various names including triple sec, curaçao, or just orange liqueur. Some brands, such as Grand Mariner, are extremely well-known for quality, while others are lesser known but equally delicious. The best orange liqueurs have delicious flavor and nice sweetness for sipping or mixing in cocktails.
1. Best Overall Orange Liqueur - Cointreau
Most people have heard the name Cointreau, which is a standard bearer for orange liqueurs. In fact, Liquor.com lists Cointreau as its best all-around orange liqueur. It costs about $40 for a 750 mL bottle, and reviewers on Drizly rated it 4.9 out of 5 stars. The French liqueur is 40% ABV, and it gets its flavors and aromas from a combination of sweet and bitter orange peels.
2. Best Premium Orange Liqueur - Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre
The Cuvée Louis-Alexandre from Grand Marnier is a premium orange liqueur choice. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 94 out of 100 points. The liqueur is made from a blend of VSOP Cognac and orange liqueur, and it is 40% alcohol by volume (ABV). It's not as sweet as some orange liqueurs, making it perfect as a sipping liqueur. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of soda. Expect to pay about $80 for a 750 mL bottle.
3. Best Top Shelf Orange Liqueur - La Grande Josiane Armagnac Orange Liqueur
Wine Enthusiast's top rated orange liqueur is the French orange liqueur made from Armagnac, La Grande Josiane. It was one of the magazine's top 100 spirits of 2019, and it received a 95 out of 100 point rating from the publication. It has notes of cocoa and vanilla along with the orange flavors, making it perfect for sipping or blending. You'll pay about $50 for a 750 mL bottle.
4. Best Affordable Orange Liqueur - Drillaud Orange Liqueur
This French orange liqueur only costs about $18 for a 750 mL bottle, but it's a solid contender for the top liqueurs. With a price point that makes it a great mixer, the Drillaud Orange Liqueur works in virtually any mixed drink calling for triple sec. Consumers at Total Wine & More rated this affordable, sweet orange liqueur at 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's 35% ABV.
5. Best Orange Liqueur for a Margarita - Grand Imperial Orange Liqueur
Total Wine & More lists Grand Imperial Orange Liqueur as it's top orange-flavored liqueur for a margarita. This French liqueur has a Cognac base, balanced with flavors of bitter orange and toffee, which adds a bright complexity to margaritas. It's 40% ABV, and it will cost around $30 for a 750 mL bottle.
6. Best Orange Liqueur for a Cosmopolitan - Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
If the cosmopolitan is your cocktail, then give it a blood orange twist with Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur. The Italian small-batch liqueur is about 60% ABV, and it has a complex bittersweet taste that blends beautifully with cranberry juice, lime juice, and vodka. The Beverage Tasting Institute rated it 91 out of 100 points, and you'll pay around $45 for a 750 mL bottle.
7. Best Triple Sec - DeKuyper Triple Sec
You can use orange liqueurs labeled triple sec interchangeably in cocktails with other orange-flavored liqueurs. The triple sec from the Netherlands, DeKuyper triple sec is no-frills and affordable, but it's delicious in mixed drinks. Reviewers on Drizly rated it 4.8 out of 5 stars, and it will only cost $10 for a 750 mL bottle. It's lower in alcohol than some other orange liqueurs, coming in at about 24% ABV. It's a great blending orange liqueur.
8. Best Orange Curaçao - Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
The Kitchn lists Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao as one of its top three orange liqueurs. It's a French dry curaçao produced by a Cognac maker with complex flavors and aromas. It received a 93-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, and you'll pay about $40 for a 750 mL bottle. ABV is 40%.
9. Best Blue Curaçao - DeKuyper Blue Curaçao
Blue curaçao is an orange-flavored liqueur, even though it's blue. The blue color comes from coloring added to the distilled and blended spirit. Bartenders use blue curaçao to add flavor and color to tropical cocktails like the blue Hawaiian. The DeKuyper blue curaçao has a vivid blue color and sweet orange flavor that's perfect for blending in blue tropical drinks. Consumers at Total Wine & More rate it 4.3 out of 5 stars, and it's 59.8% alcohol by volume.
Breaking Down the Best Orange Liqueurs
Orange liqueur is a common addition to classic cocktails. Some brands are good enough for sipping alone, while others play especially well with mixers and liquors. Therefore, the best orange liqueur is one that meets your needs, pleases your palate, and suits your budget.
