Classic Cocktails That Feature Cointreau

Cointreau is one of my favorite liqueurs to have behind the bar because of its versatility. It is an essential orange liqueur because it is often used in small quantities, think .25 oz to .75 oz in many different cocktails. Cointreau is a French liqueur and Its origin can be traced back to 1849. While Cointreau is often not the star of the show in cocktails, its appearance is necessary. A margarita, cosmopolitan, or sidecar would not be what it is without the balancing act Cointreau plays. Cointreau also pairs well with agave-based spirits and florals like Elderflower. These three classic cocktails would be great for your next cocktail party. 

The first cocktail that is well suited for an orange liqueur like Cointreau is the classic margarita. There are hundreds of different routes a margarita can take, but my favorite way to enjoy a margarita is with only 3 ingredients. This is your classic 2/1/1 cocktail. Start with quality tequila. You can absolutely use blanco tequila, but for a richer, more in-depth flavor, I would recommend a Reposado. Next is of course the Cointreau. The recipe I like to follow has 1 ounce of Cointreau in a margarita and it provides the perfect balancing act for the drink. 

• 2 oz quality blanco or reposado tequila

• 1 oz Cointreau liqueur

• 1 oz fresh lime juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake for 5 seconds. Strain over an ice rock or several ice cubes. (Shake only for 5 seconds because the drink will already be served over ice, we just want to wake up the lime juice but not over-dilute) Sniff, sip, and enjoy.

Next is the subtle and balanced Cosmopolitan. This fun-loving drink is great to share with friends and is a drink that is often requested when we service cocktail parties. The ingredients in a Cosmopolitan need to be well thought out so that it doesn’t come out too tart or too sweet. For example, if you’re working with a sweeter cranberry juice, you could potentially up the amount of lime juice, but the reverse is also true, if you have a tart cranberry juice, you may cut back on the amount of lime juice, and consider adding a touch of simple syrup to get that balance. Here’s how to make a flawless Cosmopolitan: 

• 1.5 oz citron vodka (Absolut is a good call)

• You can also play with flavored vodkas like peach or orange

• .75 oz Cointreau liqueur

• .75 oz lime juice

• .5 oz - .75 oz cranberry juice, depending on sweetness

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake for 15 seconds. Strain over a coupe glass and garnish with a lime wheel. Sniff, sip, and enjoy.

Lastly is the noble sidecar. Since the sidecar has only 3 ingredients, each one plays an important role in the taste and balance of the drink, and each of them also complements the other. This cocktail does lean toward the sour side and is sometimes garnished with a sugar rim to provide more sweetness. For the Cognac, I like Pierre Ferrand, as their quality and taste make the cognac feel authentic. It's best to go for a VS (very special) or VSOP (very special old pale) as these will have a more fruity profile to them. Here is how to make the sidecar: 

• 1.5 oz cognac

• .75 oz Cointreau

• .75 oz fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake for 15 seconds. Strain over a coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist and sugar rim if desired. Sniff, sip, and enjoy.