From timeless classics to original creations, learn how to make the perfect Cointreau drink. Made with tropical oranges that were planted by the Spanish, quality Curaçaos are typically sweeter than other orange liqueurs. Cointreau has a orange perfume flavor that’s well balanced between bitter and sweet, but Triple Sec can have a more harsh flavor. Cointreau (UK: /ˈkwɒntroʊ, ˈkwɑːn-/, US: /kwɑːnˈtroʊ, kwæ̃ˈ-/,[1][2][3] French: [kwɛ̃tʁo]) is an orange-flavoured triple sec liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. The liqueur is traditionally rum-based, but modern iterations are also made with distilled grain spirits. Triple sec is an ingredient in a broad array of mixed drinks, and it is also sometimes used in cooking to flavor various foods. Triple Sec . Discover our range of spirits and our cocktail recipes made with Cointreau triple sec. The etymology of the term "triple sec" is unclear. The very best lemon drop martini recipe has Cointreau, not triple sec. The first bottles of Cointreau were sold in 1875. In many popular drinks like Gold Margaritas, Cointreau is a better substitute over Triple Sec. Like Cointreau, Grand Marnier measures 40 percent ABV, and can be enjoyed neat or in mixed drinks. Triple sec, originally Curaçao triple sec, is a type of strong, sweet and colorless orange-flavored liqueur.It is a variety of Curaçao liqueur, an orange-flavored liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter and sweet oranges. Cointreau has a crisp, smooth, orange flavor. This liqueur is usually viewed as a premium triple sec, and it may be sipped as a standalone beverage or blended into mixed drinks. It would be quicker to list cocktails that don't contain orange liqueur than to list the ones that do. Cointreau is one of the best-known brands of the triple sec style of orange liqueur. And both brands offer a different explanation for the name. Cointreau (since 1875) claims to have invented the name Triple Sec, based on the 3 different types of oranges they use. You opened it, made a few drinks, and pretty much forgot about it. An estimated 13 million bottles are sold each year, in more than 150 countries. Triple sec is a Caribbean drink, and as a result, it uses oranges from the Caribbean in its triple distillation process. [5] Despite the orange bottle, Cointreau is colourless. Cointreau is a brand name and uses oranges from around the world, including Brazil and Spain. In early 2008, burlesque entertainer Dita Von Teese became the new face of Cointreau's "Be Cointreauversial" advertising and marketing campaign,[10] a campaign created in 2003[11] by the New York advertising agency KraftWorks.[12]. Of the various orange liqueurs, triple sec tends to be the cheapest cost-wise. [citation needed], In addition to being consumed neat (or often on ice), Cointreau is used in many popular cocktails. The drink was first released in 1875, and is made using a mix of sweet and bitter orange peels and sugar beet alcohol. Cointreau vs Triple SEC • Cointreau is a brand while Triple SEC is the generic name of the orange flavored liquor that is made after distillation of peel of sweet and bitter oranges. It’s succulent neat, on the rocks or in cocktails. Cointreau is an orange liqueur that originates in France, and remains one of the most common brands of triple sec. Combier contendsthat founder Jean-Baptiste Combier created “the world’s first tripe sec” in 1834 by trip… Triple Sec: Triple sec is the French answer to Dutch curaçao. Because of its high production value, Cointreau can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, as well as mixed in a sidecar or a Singapore sling. Explore our variety of Cointreau triple sec cocktail recipes . They taste, in a word, cheap. Er ist meiner Meinung nach nicht ganz so ausgewogen wie der Grand Marnier, aber es handelt sich immer noch um einen sehr guten Triple Sec. Triple Sec uses oranges from the Caribbean. Cointreau vs triple sec. Now the question “does triple sec go bad” popped off in your head and you’re searching for the answer. In modern parlance, triple sec is often used as a generic term for any orange liqueur, and sometimes denotes a low-grade knock-off. It first appeared in 1880, and was originally called “Curaçao Marnier,” in reference to its high quantity of brandy. [6][7], The production methods and recipe are a family secret, but tours of the facility are open to the public. Triple Sec. A 750 mL bottle of triple sec can be purchased for around $9.99. Triple sec refers more to the type of orange liqueur rather than the name of the brand. It is at the heart of more than 350 of the world's most celebrated cocktails including The … They are thought to be the same and have several similarities, but they are not the same product. Many bars stock Cointreau, and it is also available through liquor stores in many regions. Der beliebte Triple Sec von Cointreau hat einen deutlichen Zitronengeruch, auch im Geschmack kommt neben Orange etwas Zitrone durch. It was originally called Curaçao Blanco Triple Sec. It was originally called Cointreau Triple Sec, but as time passed, the name was shortened to simply Cointreau to separate the brand from other companies. Both Cointreau (pronounced kwahn-troh) and Combier have claimed to be the first triple sec. When mixed, the crystalline liqueur becomes opalescent, a testament to the high concentration of orange essence. It’s now selling more than 13 millions bottles each year in more than 150 countries. They range in strength from 15 to 40 percent ABV. It is $7 for 1.0 Liter which is less than a third of the price of GM or Cointreau. "Remy Martin and Cointreau Plan to Merge", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cointreau&oldid=994969653, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2020, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 14:18. Overall impression: Combier is a recent arrival in the United States, and it's marketed as a slightly less-expensive Cointreau replacement. Triple Sec and Cointreau are orange flavored liqueurs. Nose: Subtle orange, alcohol. Most cocktailers prefer to steer clear of modern-day, artificial Curaçaos in orange, blue, and green hues. Origins. This full-strength, 80-proof spirit has the versatility to mix with any type of liquor to craft a more elevated cocktail. Extremelye aromatic thanks to a complex blend of orange peel essences, with … Style: Triple sec, 80 proof Country of origin: France Color: Clear. 3/4 ounce Cointreau (or another orange-flavored liqueur, see … Orange liqueurs are vital to any well-stocked bar. Cointreau is a form of triple sec produced by the Rémy Cointreau distillery in France. Despite the orange bottle, Cointreau is colourless. That happens all the time with alcoholic beverages. High-quality triple secs, meanwhile, can be consumed neat or as part of a cocktail. It is consumed as an apéritif and digestif,[4] and is a component of several well-known cocktails. It is known to be more dry than sweet, leading some to believe its name comes from the words “Triple Dry”. • Cointreau is much expensive than Triple SEC. In this episode you'll learn all about the main orange liqueurs in most bars: triple sec, orange curaçao, cointreau, and grand marnier. Or it could be a reference to the third evolution of French brand Cointreau’s recipe. Cointreau, among the best-known brands of orange liqueur, is a triple sec in style, even though it’s not labeled as such. Photography is restricted in many areas to protect the production process from being copied. Sec means "dry" in French and triple sec is often thought to mean "triple dry," though it can refer to a triple-distilled liqueur.There's also a claim that the name refers to the third attempt at Cointreau's recipe (the one still in use). Combier and Cointreau both claim to be the world’s first triple sec producer. The line dividing triple sec and curaçao is shaky, to say the least. France- Cointreau is the crystal-clear orange liqueur essential for any home bar. In the triple sec category, Combier and Patron Citronge are both good but are second choices next to Cointreau. They have the same basic ingredient being made from dried orange peel. It's impossible to have a well-stocked bar without orange liqueur, also known as curaçao or triple sec. Created in the 19th century by Dutch settlers on the island of the same name, Curaçao is now both a brand and category name. Triple sec may be consumed neat as a digestif, or on the rocks. Cointreau is the crystal-clear orange liqueur essential for any home bar. Triple sec was first introduced in France as Curaçao triple sec, but that's about the only part of the liqueur's history that is agreed upon. This led to the spirit becoming more closely associated with sweetness rather than orange flavor. It is used in classic French desserts, such as crêpes suzette and bûche de Noël (Yule log). However, Jean Baptiste Combier also claims to have invented the term Triple Sec (triple distilled). Triple sec and Cointreau are both orange liquors, which are made from a distilled orange peel. Its high-quality production means that it can be drunk neat, over ice, or in cocktails. [8][9] When mixed with water, Cointreau exhibits the Ouzo effect. Unlke Cointreau, Grand Marnier is made with cognac and bitter oranges. Cointreau is a premium triple sec orange-flavored liqueur. Cointreau, a proprietary … Ninety percent of production is exported. Cointreau is a name well known to bartenders and cocktail connoisseurs alike. Using Cointreau, a clear triple sec, is the orange-flavored liqueur of choice to keep the cocktail white. Triple sec, another popular orange liqueur, is considered a Curaçao style liqueur. As the popularity of the category grew throughout the 19th century, cheap imitations appeared, often including extra sugar to mask poor flavor. Cointreau is one of the best-known brands of the triple sec style of orange liqueur. A drier style of orange liqueur, triple sec hails from France, but the origin of the drink’s name beyond that is disputed. They appear in classic cocktails like the Margarita and Sidecar, not to mention Long Island Iced Teas and Cosmopolitans. 1 1/2 ounces gin. But we’ll leave that battle to them. It is at the heart of more than 350 of the world’s most celebrated cocktails including The Original Margarita, The Cosmopolitan, and The Sidecar. Bols make a very nice triple sec that does not have the artificial taste of most of the American brands. Cointreau, often used to make Cosmopolitans, is a type of triple sec. It is not typically aged. There are many recipes of drinks such as Sangria where Triple sec can be substituted by the more classic and superior taste of … The variety of oranges used in Cointreau are one key difference, although both triple sec and Cointreau use a combination of sweet and bitter oranges to make their liqueur. © 2014 - 2020 VinePair Inc. — Made In NYC, Next Round Live: What's Happening in the Drinks Industry Now, 10 Things You Should Know About Shiner Beer, How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit to Stone Brewing, What’s the Difference Between Cointreau, Grand Marnier, and Triple Sec? It even says on the bottle that it is made from Valencia Oranges, Curacao Oranges, and Lemons. Not as balanced as Cointreau, skewing more toward sweetness. But if you have another orange liqueur, feel free to use that. Similar to Cointreau, triple sec is colorless and is made from the peels of both bitter and sweet oranges. Grand Marnier, the other heavyweight in the category, is in the slightly sweeter curaçao camp. As a main player in the orange-flavoured liqueur category, Cointreau is everywhere. According to Cointreau, their liqueur has “the highest amount of essential oils and the lowest amount of added sugar”. It was originally called Curaçao Blanco Triple Sec. Außerdem unterscheidet er sich durch eine bittere Süße im Nachklang von der Konkurrenz. Triple sec liqueurs tend to be more powerfully zesty orange in flavour than the relatively subtle Dutch orange curaçaos. Triple sec represents the other style of orange liqueur and Cointreau is considered to be in this style. Indeed Cointreau was originally named 'Curaçao Triple Sec Cointreau'. Another difference between the two is the alcohol content. Cointreau & Cie SA was family-owned until 1990, when it merged with Rémy Martin to form Rémy Cointreau, now a publicly traded company. Cointreau's amber bottle conceals a perfectly transparent liqueur. [citation needed], In the 1980s, Avirex, now Cockpit USA, issued an A-2 limited-edition leather flight jacket featuring Cointreau Original Margarita nose art on the back of the jacket. Top-shelf brands like Grand Marnier and Cointreau … Since Cointreau uses both sweet and bitter oranges, it’s considered to be in the “triple sec” style. Here’s a breakdown of the different styles of orange liqueur, and commonly used popular brands. While many of the French producers of orange liqueur in the 19thcentury initially marketed their products as curaçao, a new term began to appear on labels: “triple sec.” Both Combier and Cointreau credit themselves for the invention of the category, which means “triple dry” in French. Commonly used as a term for any orange liqueur in a recipe, triple sec … Some attribute it to being a translation of the words “triple dry.” Others say it is a reference to triple distillation (which doesn’t actually occur in its preparation). Grand Marnier is classified as a Curaçao/triple sec hybrid, made from a mix of Cognac, distilled bitter orange essence, and sugar. Triple sec, a liqueur made from the skins of oranges, ranges in alcohol content from 15% to 30%, depending on the brand. The less-pricey brands tend to taste overly sweet with a harsh bite. Triple sec-soaked cakes, for example, are a not uncommon sight during the holidays in some regions of the world. Is the difference between Curaçao Liqueur and Triple Sec marketing driven? • Cointreau is made in France, whereas Triple SEC may be made anywhere in the Caribbean and also in other South American countries. Their first success was with the cherry liqueur guignolet, but they also found success when they blended sweet and bitter orange peels and pure alcohol from sugar beets. Cointreau Distillery was set up in 1849 by Adolphe Cointreau, a confectioner, and his brother Edouard-Jean Cointreau. It is regarded by some to be a category of liqueur of its own. Palate: Semi-dry, bitter orange, not much spice. They are understated workhorses, providing fruit flavors, complexity, and occasionally sweetness. The French brand has been a high roller since it’s creation in 1875. Cointreau is probably the most recognized brand of orange liqueur in the triple sec style, and Grand Marnier, despite being French, is more in line with the Dutch curacao style as it has an aged brandy base. A brand of triple sec from Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. Bols claims to be the first company to produce Curaçao; today, companies such as Pierre Ferrand also offer versions. However, Triple sec is used overtly because of its low price over Cointreau. Some of the major brands are include Cointreau and Grand Mariner (a blend of triple sec and cognac). They both help add flavor and sweetness to cocktails. A side-by-side comparison of homemade orange liqueur with a bottom-shelf triple sec is no contest—DIY wins it by a mile. Grand Marnie. "Sec" is the French word for dry. The category is confusing, though. Triple secs are also more one-dimensional in flavour whereas curaçaos usually have additional herbs and spices, particularly coriander. (Realizing the color of the cocktail may vary.) | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/differences-cointreau-triple-sec-grand-marnier/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Curaçao, wbs_type Triple Sec, wbs_brand BOLS, wbs_brand Cointreau, wbs_brand Combier, wbs_brand Grand Marnier, wbs_brand Pierre Ferrand, Curaçao, explainer, Grand Marnier, orange liqueur, Triple Sec, How to Celebrate the Holidays in Style With Mionetto Prosecco | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/how-to-celebrate-the-holidays-in-style-with-mionetto-prosecco/, wbs_cat Wine, wbs_type Prosecco, wbs_brand Mionetto, holidays, Infographics, prosecco, wine pairing. The colorless liqueur measures 40 percent ABV, or 80 proof. So you’ve got that bottle of Cointreau triple sec sitting in the liquor cabinet for some time now. Curaçao is generally agreed to be the original orange liqueur. Cointreau is an orange-flavoured triple sec liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. Certain brand names are synonymous with different styles, and origin stories are hazy. The official IBA recipes for both the margarita and the cosmopolitan include Cointreau. It is consumed as an apéritif and digestif, and is a component of several well-known cocktails.