Cointreau is a top brand of triple sec, or orange liqueur, prized for its orange flavor. While you can sip Cointreau on its own, it's also used in a number of popular cocktails you're probably already familiar with. If you're feeling adventurous, work your way through these drinks and decide which popular Cointreau cocktails are your favorite.
Cosmopolitan
If you love a little tart cranberry flavor mixed with orange, give this drink a try.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces citron vodka
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Sidecar
If you're partial to brandy, try this cocktail that has proven itself a classic decade after decade.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Lemon Drop
Once one of the most popular cocktails of the 20th century, it continues to shine well into the 21st century.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 2½ ounces vodka
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, Cointreau, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Long Island Iced Tea
This drink goes down smoothly, but take care; it's deceptively strong. Have just one and sip it slowly.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce tequila
- ½ ounce London dry gin
- ½ ounce light rum
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Cola to top off
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, tequila, gin, rum, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with cola.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Margarita
Tequila might be the backbone of this drink, but Cointreau and lime are essential for creating its signature flavor.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Mai Tai
Tropical cocktails like the mai tai are definitely back in style with the tiki bar revival and definitely worth trying if you're a fan of rum drinks.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces aged rum
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce grenadine
- 1 teaspoon orgeat syrup
- 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Pineapple and other citrus fruit slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add rum, Cointreau, grenadine, orgeat, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into hurricane glass or tiki glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with fruit.
Singapore Sling
Although the original recipe for the Singapore sling was lost decades ago, this cocktail is still famous and popular worldwide. Bartenders have tried to recreate the original recipe as best as they can based on memories of the cocktail's flavor, so you might just encounter slightly different recipes in different establishments.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1½ ounces gin
- ½ ounce Cherry Heering or cherry brandy
- ¼ ounce Benedictine
- ¼ ounce Cointreau
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pineapple juice, gin, cherry hearing, Benedictine, Cointreau, lime juice, and bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or collins glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Sangria
Sangria is a festive wine punch that's a popular staple at many Spanish restaurants, and it makes a wonderful party beverage that's made by the pitcher to serve at warm-weather gatherings. It's also quite versatile since you can make it with red or white wine and various fruits. This recipe serves about four people.
Ingredients
- 1 apple, cored and sliced with the peel on
- 1 orange, sliced with the peel on
- 1 lemon, sliced with the peel on
- 750 ml red wine, such as Rioja
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar, optional
- 2 ounces Cointreau
- 2 ounces brandy
- Ice
- About 12 ounces chilled club soda
Instructions
- In a large glass pitcher, add wine, Cointreau, brandy, fruit, and sugar.
- Refrigerate for at least four hours.
- Add ice and club soda.
- Stir to mix.
Afternoon Spritz
This is the perfect recipe for those who love an Aperol spritz but want some bolder orange flavors.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Aperol
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- 3 ounces prosecco
- 1 ounce club soda
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, Aperol, Cointreau, prosecco, and club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with orange slice.
White Daisy
This smokey mezcal martini will leave you, and your lucky friends, breathless with surprise and delight.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add mezcal, Cointreau, lemon juice, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Smoke Over Water
Mezcal and Cointreau are an easy pairing; the sweet orange notes complement the smokey, caramel flavor of the mezcal seamlessly.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce watermelon juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce elderflower liqueur
- Ice
- Dehydrated lime wheel and toasted rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, mezcal, Cointreau, watermelon juice, lime juice, and elderflower liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel and toasted rosemary sprig.
White Lady
Not to be confused with every small town's local ghost story, the White Lady is a savory yet herbaceous cocktail well worth trying.
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
Orange Garden
Cointreau takes center stage in this simple yet flavorful martini.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- ¼ ounce dry vermouth
- ¼ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, vodka, Cointreau, dry vermouth, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and orange ribbon.
Mixers for Cointreau
If you like to mix up your own drinks, then try some of these popular Cointreau mixers.
- Citrus juices
- Coffee
- Hot chocolate
- Apple cider (cold or warm)
- Sour mix and club soda
- Amaretto
- Dry sparkling wine
Put Your Cointreau to Good Use
If you purchased Cointreau just to make a specific drink, there's no worry about getting tired of it now. You have plenty of popular cocktail options to try out, but don't stop there. You can use Cointreau in nearly any recipe that calls for triple sec, so experiment a little and decide what's popular with you.
