This post was originally published on this site
Cointreau: Margaritas and cosmopolitans wouldn’t be the same without it. But what exactly is this aromatic, transparent liqueur—and how does it vary from similar products, like triple sec and Grand Marnier?
While triple sec is a generic term used to describe any orange-flavored liqueur, Cointreau refers to a specific brand of especially high-quality triple sec that’s particularly strong—40 percent alcohol by volume, to be exact. Grand Marnier, meanwhile, is also a specific brand of orange liqueur, but it consists of triple sec blended with cognac, which gives it an amber color.