Drinks Cocktails 9 Cointreau Cocktails for Fans of Margaritas, Mimosas, and Cosmopolitans This orange liqueur adds sweetness to some of our favorite cocktails. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 11, 2023 Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Any Margarita maven has a bottle or two of Cointreau stashed away in a cabinet somewhere for impromptu dinner parties or less-than-ideal Wednesdays. While you can't properly make the classic cocktail without this orange-flavored (yet surprisingly clear hued) liqueur, we've also found it to be key in making riffs on some of our brunch-time favorites, like this floral, sweet Orange Liqueur Mimosa as well as in a bright pink, frozen take on the iconic Cosmopolitan. Here are more of our favorite Cointreau cocktails that showcase the sweet, syrupy triple sec. 01 of 09 Sidecar Matt Taylor-Gross / Styling by Lucy Simon The sweet, sour, and citrusy Sidecar is a testament to beauty in simplicity with just three core ingredients. Cointreau adds the brightest citrus flavor. Get the Recipe 02 of 09 Frozmopolitan Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Cocktail savant Toby Cecchini is credited with inventing the internationally recognized version of the Cosmopolitan and this frozen Cosmopolitan that's great for a crowd. Fruity and citrusy, Cecchini's "froze-mopolitan" tastes so much like a delicious fruit punch that you might not notice there's alcohol in it. Get the Recipe 03 of 09 Margarita Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter The Margarita is one of the most riffed-upon classic cocktails out there, but at its core, this simple drink calls for blanco tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau orange liqueur. Get the Recipe 04 of 09 Rubino Shakerato Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Vermouth, Cognac, and Cointreau? Count us in. Get the Recipe 05 of 09 Singapore Sling Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Julie Reiner’s take on the classic tropical cocktail doesn’t stray far from the original, mixing gin, pineapple juice, and bitters, along with a blend of liqueurs she calls Sling Business — a mix of cherry liqueur, Benedictine, homemade grenadine, and Cointreau or triple sec. Get the Recipe 06 of 09 Mezcal Margarita Victor Protasio Smoky mezcal brings depth to a classic margarita. A combination of slightly sweeter Combier and mildly bitter Cointreau balances the floral orange notes in the drink. Get the Recipe 07 of 09 Sour Cherry Mezcal Margarita Photo by Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell This fruity spin on a margarita combines smoky mezcal, citrusy Cointreau, and sweet-tart cherry puree in a vibrant red drink. Bright, pleasantly tart sour cherries are in season for a limited window, so this simple roasted puree is an easy way to preserve their flavor. Get the Recipe 08 of 09 Orange Liqueur Mimosa Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee We're giving classic mimosas a variation by swapping out the traditional orange juice with splashes of homemade orange syrup and orange liqueur — in this case Cointreau. Get the Recipe 09 of 09 Once Upon a Paris Bar Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely This one uses the traditional base ingredients of a a citrus-rich Sidecar made with orange liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice, but adds an extra kick with the addition of Irish whiskey. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit