If you haven’t tried Cointreau cocktails before it’s time to get familiar with all that the orange-flavored liqueur adds to your drinks.
Cointreau is a brand of triple sec that is made from both sweet and bitter orange peels that gives you a crisp touch of orange flavor in your drinks.
It is a colorless liquid that definitely helps bring out the other flavors in your drinks while keeping a bit of freshness in the mix.
This is a key ingredient in many classic cocktails like the Sidecar, White Lady, and the Classic Margarita.
But it also has a place in some new beverages such as a Cointreau Fizz or Tequila Lime Crush.
If you find yourself looking at an unopened bottle wondering what to do with it, rest easy, there are a lot of cocktails you can make with this specific type of triple sec.
Work your way through this list of 30 Cointreau cocktails and you will find yourself inspired to add a tang of orange flavor to all of your cocktails!
Whether you like martinis, margaritas, mojitos, or any other type of adult beverage, there is definitely a way to make it better by adding in some Cointreau.
This martini balances out sweet and sour in one glass.
The flavors of the cranberry juice and fresh-squeezed lime combine together to give you a taste that is almost like grapefruit.
Of course, no Cosmopolitan martini is complete without the high-quality orange liqueur added in.
Starting your weekend brunch with mimosas is a guaranteed way to start your day off on a good note.
But, switching from traditional orange juice and champagne to these Blood Orange Mimosas will start your day that much better.
Use your favorite chilled champagne or sparkling wine but instead of orange juice, use freshly squeezed blood oranges if you have access to them.
Otherwise bottled or frozen blood orange juice will work, too.
Toss your blood orange juice with some Cointreau and you get a tangy twist to your mimosas!
While Midori and Cointreau are recommended for this cocktail, you can use other melon liqueur or triple sec if that is what you have on hand.
Between the liqueur added in and the freshly squeezed lemon juice, you can stay away from adding in extra sweeteners since you will already have a perfectly sweet cocktail!
This is one of the classic drinks with Cointreau that has withstood the test of time and once you get a sense of how glamorous it feels, you will understand why.
Although it can be a bit strong, it is an easy drink to sip on to help you unwind after a long day.
There is a nice balance between sweet, bitter, and sour all in each drop you taste.
This cocktail is quite simple for a luxurious beverage to impress your guests with.
It only needs three ingredients but the fun part comes from playing around with how much of each you put in.
Some people say you should have equal parts Cointreau and Cognac, while others say there should be more Cognac than Cointreau.
Whatever amount of brandy and triple sec you decide to add, you will love how easy it is to make this classic cocktail.
Perfect for enjoying during New Year’s Eve celebrations, this cocktail is as tasty as it is beautiful.
100% pomegranate juice is the best choice for adding to the mix since it will give you a stronger flavor and color.
Let some frozen berries sit in your glass before you add in your cocktail mixture for extra fruitiness to go with the slight bitterness in this drink.
This is one of the Cointreau drinks you will want to sip on and enjoy slowly.
Since you are using a full shot of Cointreau along with a full shot of gin, it counts as a double so let yourself enjoy the complexities of the orange flavors in your cocktail.
This margarita is one drink that you will want to share with everyone at your next get-together!
The prickly pear syrup gives you beautiful purple color, whether you buy prickly pear syrup from the store or make it at home.
No margarita is complete without your favorite tequila but you won’t want to leave out the Cointreau, either!
Go ahead and make a pitcher of this rather than individual glasses since you know everyone will be wanting seconds!
During a warm summer weekend morning, cool off with this refreshing daiquiri.
Use frozen mangos so you can stay away from lots of added sugar.
The Cointreau, honey, and lime juice are added in to give you a nice addition of citrus flavor to go with the tropical taste of the mango.
10. French 75
There is something so sophisticated about this cocktail but that doesn’t mean that you have to force down a bad-tasting drink.
Cointreau adds a little bit of depth to the flavor while giving you a little bit of citrus to mask the gin flavor if that is not your favorite liquor.
There is really no time that this cocktail isn’t a great choice for a posh drink to sip on, so make it a staple in your drink lineup.
Cocktails with Cointreau pull any brunch celebration together.
This one, in particular, helps you wake up with the bright orange flavors from the Cointreau and orange juice featured in the recipe.
You have the freedom to use whatever whiskey you like best, or even substitute in rum, vodka, or gin if that is what you prefer.
This inter-time cocktail is best served chilled without extra ice added in.
Squeeze yourself some fresh grapefruit and lemon juice for a combo of sweet and sour flavors.
This cocktail should be shaken so that the Cointreau and citrus fruits blend well with the gin for the best flavor profile.
If you are a fan of Sidecars, you are likely to love this similar cocktail.
This drink uses gin and Cointreau with some fresh lemon juice for a sweet and tart taste.
An egg white added in may sound unusual but it does great for adding in a creamier texture.
Once you try a little bit in your cocktails you will find every reason to add some egg white to your drinks.
Here is another Prohibition-era drink that belongs on this list of Cointreau cocktails for the way it has endured throughout time.
A shot of gin with some orange juice and a splash of Cointreau make this a special gin and orange-flavored beverage.
Toss in some lime juice and Angostura bitters for a classic drink that takes you back to a different time period in bar drinks!
Dreamsicle ice cream maybe something you enjoyed as a child but that doesn’t mean you can’t put a boozy twist on it and make it an adult drink.
Coffee liqueur and Cointreau make the base of this flavor while some orange juice amplifies the orange flavor.
Heavy cream is poured on top of a spoon so it layers beautifully on top of your beverage and adds some extra creaminess to your cocktail.
Highland Park scotch is ideal for making this cocktail since it balances sweet and smoky flavors so well.
Once you add in some apple juice, lemon juice, agave, and Cointreau you get a bit more sweetness with a dash of citrus flavor.
This mixed drink is like a delicious mixture of plenty of classic cocktails like an Aperol spritz, Cadillac margarita, and Paloma all in one.
There is a nice combination of both bitter and sweet in this cocktail.
If you don’t have Cointreau, you can use another orange liqueur but Cointreau is the best choice for this cocktail!
Use some raspberry vodka in your classic lemon drop martini for a refreshing twist on your lemon drops.
Even though it presents a pretty pink color that may turn some men away, it is still as powerful as other martinis and has just the right flavors for everyone’s palate.
There are few Cointreau recipes that play on brewed green tea flavors as well as this martini does.
Make sure your brewed tea has chilled before mixing everything together!
Some citron vodka, Cointreau, and simple syrup are added in for a bit of citrus flavor and sweetness without taking away from the beloved green tea flavor.
Every bartender, despite experience level, needs to have a solid margarita recipe saved up their sleeves whether for entertaining others or to treat themselves.
As long as you have good quality tequila, fresh lime juice, and your Cointreau handy, you can mix this drink together in no time with little effort!
Once you are comfortable with this recipe (which should take no time at all) you can have fun adding in flavors or trying to make it frozen!
Champagne is great for celebrating special occasions but you can make it a little more fun by turning it into this raspberry sorbet cocktail.
Cointreau adds a splash of orange flavor while the champagne adds bubbles and a level of luxury to this drink.
As your sorbet begins to melt, you get more sweetness in your drink as well as the ability to keep your glass chilled a bit longer.
Few drinks made with Cointreau hit the spot in the warm weather months as a good sangria does.
Slice up your favorite fruit and add it to your wine and Cointreau mixture.
If you can, let the sangria chill in the fridge overnight so the fruit can release its flavors, but don’t let it sit for longer than two days or the fruit may start to go bad.
Cranberries scream fall and winter fruit!
Making a boozy punch with frozen cranberries and cranberry ginger ale included is a surefire way to enjoy an adult beverage with a ton of fall flavor added in.
When you pour your drink into your glass, it will layer into separate yet beautiful colors but once you stir it together you will be able to fully enjoy the punch it packs!
Like many mojito recipes, you will want to start this drink off by muddling together some basil, lemon, and sugar.
Pour some Cold River Blueberry Vodka, Cointreau, and soda water on top and you will have a picture-perfect yet tasty and refreshing drink to wind down after a long day with.
Adding in a garnish of fresh blueberries or fresh basil will only accentuate the flavors in the mojito and can’t hurt!
Have you wondered how to make classic Moscow Mules better?
One simple ingredient can do just that: Cointreau.
Be sure you use a copper mug so that you keep your drink cold, keep your ginger beer or ginger ale bubbly, and add a bit of a distinct taste when the vodka mixes with the copper.
26. Cointreau Fizz
Since it is normally an ingredient used to build on the present flavors in a cocktail you won’t find many other drinks made with Cointreau as the sole liquor in it.
However, it has such a great taste so simply adding in some soda water and a bit of fresh lime juice is all that you need.
To make a simple yet delicious beverage with a good amount of citrus in every sip!
27. Velvet Hammer
Adult beverages can easily be made to go down smooth, as this Velvet Hammer recipe will prove.
Imagine a mocha with some orange flavors mixed in.
Cognac and cream together make this drink taste like Irish cream with a hint of whiskey’s punch.
There is still a bit of a kick from the alcohol but the other coffee, chocolate, and orange flavors blend perfectly with the Cognac to make it a rich treat for yourself.
If you are wondering what to mix with Cointreau so you aren’t overwhelmed with sugary sweetness in your drink, this recipe does a great job of balancing tart with sweet.
This is incredibly simple to prepare in a shaker!
If you already like lemon drops, this is a nice way to change it up a bit to make it a little bit more fun and appeal to all types of guests!
If you or your friends think you don’t like tequila, this cocktail is what you need to change your mind!
Cointreau, pineapple juice, and seltzer do a good job of taking away the burn that tequila can bring.
The addition of crushed pineapple in your glass brings out the tropical flavors and releases a bit more tang for your tastebuds.
Did you know that long island iced teas don’t actually have any tea in them?
They are named so for the way they look like iced tea when served over ice in a highball glass and garnished with a lemon.
You need vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and your favorite orange liqueur (Cointreau) to make a surprisingly refreshing drink that won’t taste overwhelmingly like alcohol.
The bottom line
Whether you have a drink that needs a little extra oomph added in from Cointreau or wants something sweet and refreshing without too much alcohol taste, these Cointreau cocktails have something for you!
The addition of one simple ingredient to your drinks can really elevate it up a few levels.
So make sure you grab a bottle next time you are at the liquor store and start incorporating it into your cocktails!
The Best 30 Cointreau Cocktails
30 Cointreau Cocktails adding a little extra oomph to elevate your drinks to the next level!
Ingredients
- The Perfect Cosmopolitan
- Blood Orange Mimosa
- Japanese Slipper Cocktail
- Embassy Cocktail
- Sidecar Cocktail
- Rum Berry Cocktail
- Gin Aloha Cocktail
- Prickly Pear Margarita
- Mango Daiquiri
- French 75
- Whisky Orange Juice Cocktail
- Winter Citrus Sour Cocktail
- White Lady Cocktail
- The Stork Club Cocktail
- Orange Dreamsicle Cocktail
- Freya’s Wheels of Fury
- Aperol Paloma Cocktail
- Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
- Green Tea Martini
- Classic Margarita
- Raspberry Sorbet Champagne Cocktail
- Simple Red Sangria
- Cranberry Prosecco Punch
- Blueberry Basil Mojito
- French Mule Cocktail
- Cointreau Fizz
- Velvet Hammer
- Lemon Drop Jolly Pops
- Tequila Lime Crush
- Long Island Iced Tea
Instructions
- Skim through our Cointreau Cocktails list.
- Select the drink you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!