Cointreau Cocktails: 6 Classic Drinks to Make With Cointreau at Home
Cointreau cocktails include some of the best-known drinks in the world: the margarita, the cosmopolitan, the sidecar and the white lady. Cointreau is a clear orange liqueur with a bright, balanced citrus flavour, and a single bottle unlocks a long list of recipes. This guide gives six classic Cointreau cocktails with simple measures, plus tips on how to use and store the bottle.
What is Cointreau?
Cointreau is an orange liqueur made in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou in France. It combines sweet and bitter orange peels with a neutral spirit and sugar, and it is bottled clear. The flavour is bright and clean, with real orange peel rather than a heavy candied note.
It belongs to the triple sec style of orange liqueur, which is used widely in cocktails. Browse the orange liqueur collection or see the Cointreau brand page for sizes and prices.
How do you make a margarita with Cointreau?
Shake 50 ml of tequila, 25 ml of Cointreau and 25 ml of fresh lime juice with ice. Strain into a glass rimmed with salt over fresh ice, and garnish with a lime wedge. This is the classic ratio of 2 parts tequila, 1 part Cointreau and 1 part lime.
Use a blanco or reposado tequila. If you prefer a softer drink, add a small splash of agave syrup. Compare bottles in the white tequila and gold tequila collections.
How do you make a cosmopolitan?
Shake 40 ml of vodka, 15 ml of Cointreau, 15 ml of fresh lime juice and 30 ml of cranberry juice with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange peel.
The result is pale pink, tart and slightly sweet. Use unsweetened or lightly sweetened cranberry juice so the lime and orange can still be tasted.
How do you make a sidecar?
Shake 50 ml of cognac, 20 ml of Cointreau and 20 ml of fresh lemon juice with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Some recipes rim the glass with sugar, which is optional.
A VS or VSOP cognac is ideal. Read more in our guide to cognac vs brandy before choosing a bottle.
What other Cointreau cocktails are worth making?
The white lady combines 40 ml of gin, 30 ml of Cointreau and 20 ml of lemon juice, shaken and strained. A Cointreau spritz is simpler: pour 50 ml of Cointreau over ice in a wine glass, top with 100 ml of prosecco and a splash of soda, and garnish with an orange slice.
The Long Island iced tea uses small measures of vodka, gin, white rum, tequila and Cointreau with lemon juice and cola. It is strong, so measure carefully and serve it long over lots of ice.
What tips improve Cointreau cocktails?
Use freshly squeezed citrus, because bottled juice can taste flat. Chill the glass, use plenty of good ice and shake hard for about 12 to 15 seconds so the drink is cold and lightly diluted.
Measure with a jigger. Cocktails are about balance, and a few millilitres too much of any ingredient changes the drink. Taste and adjust the next one if you want it drier or sweeter.
How do you buy and store Cointreau?
Cointreau is sold in several sizes, including a 50 ml miniature, a 700 ml bottle and a 1 litre bottle for regular cocktail making. See Cointreau 700 ml and Cointreau 1 litre for current prices.
Store the bottle upright at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Because of the alcohol and sugar content, it keeps well once opened. We deliver insured across Australia, and an adult (18+) must sign for every parcel.
What can you use instead of Cointreau?
If you do not have Cointreau, triple sec or another orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier can replace it. Triple sec is usually sweeter and lighter in flavour, so use a little less. Grand Marnier is cognac-based and richer, which suits a sidecar well.
Check the orange liqueur collection for options. Remember that the swap changes the drink slightly, so taste and adjust.
How many standard drinks are in a Cointreau cocktail?
Cointreau is 40 percent ABV, so a 25 ml measure contains about 0.8 standard drinks on its own, and a margarita with 50 ml of tequila and 25 ml of Cointreau contains about 2.3 standard drinks. Cocktails often contain more alcohol than they taste of.
Count your drinks, drink water between cocktails, and follow the Australian guidelines of no more than four standard drinks on any one day.
Which glass should you use for each Cointreau cocktail?
Use a chilled coupe or martini glass for the cosmopolitan, sidecar and white lady, because the drinks are served without ice and stay colder in a stemmed glass. Use a rocks glass or a margarita glass over fresh ice for the margarita, and a large wine glass for a Cointreau spritz.
Chill glasses in the freezer for ten minutes before serving. A cold glass keeps the drink at the right temperature for longer, which matters more than the exact shape of the glass.
How do you buy online from Doctors of Whisky?
Doctors of Whisky is a Sydney-based online bottle shop. Browse the collection, add bottles to your cart and choose PayID, bank transfer, Bitcoin or USDT at checkout; paying with Bitcoin or USDT takes 12% off.
The minimum order is $300 AUD. Orders of $1,500 AUD or more ship free by express courier, and a flat $75 AUD fee applies below that. Delivery is insured, and an adult (18+) must sign for every parcel.
How can you drink responsibly in Australia?
The Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol recommend no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol, and the label on every bottle shows the number of standard drinks.
Pace yourself, eat before and while you drink, alternate with water, and never drive after drinking. You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol.
Buy Orange Liqueur online in Australia
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1800 Guachimonton Orange Liqueur
1800 Guachimonton Orange Liqueur (700ml) is an orange liqueur from 1800, made in International. Buy it online from Doctors of Whisky with insured delivery across Australia.
Cointreau 50ml Orange Liqueur
Cointreau 50ml Orange Liqueur is an orange liqueur from Cointreau, made in International. Buy it online from Doctors of Whisky with insured delivery across Australia. Searching for cointreau liqueur orange? This page lists the price, size and insured delivery details.
Cointreau Pourer Orange Liqueur
Cointreau Pourer Orange Liqueur (700ml) is an orange liqueur from Cointreau, made in International. Buy it online from Doctors of Whisky with insured delivery across Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What cocktails can you make with Cointreau?
Classic examples include the margarita, cosmopolitan, sidecar, white lady and a Cointreau spritz.
Is Cointreau the same as triple sec?
Cointreau is a premium orange liqueur in the triple sec style. Generic triple sec is usually sweeter and less complex.
What is the best Cointreau margarita ratio?
A classic ratio is 2 parts tequila, 1 part Cointreau and 1 part fresh lime juice.
Does Cointreau go off after opening?
No. With its alcohol and sugar content it keeps well for a long time if stored upright and sealed.
Where can I buy Cointreau in Australia?
You can buy Cointreau online from Doctors of Whisky with insured delivery across Australia. An adult (18+) must sign for every delivery.
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