Liqueur "Cointreau" - orange liqueur with their own hands. What is the best way to drink Cointreau liquor (Cointreau), features of the use of elite alcohol

Noble orange liqueur with exquisite taste- Cointreau, widely popular. This drink contains aromatic esters and, when consumed in moderation, improves mood, improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, treats bleeding gums, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

But at the same time, like any other alcohol, it should not be pregnant and breastfeeding, persons under 18 years of age and with allergies to citrus fruits.

Cointreau is a clear orange liqueur with a strength of 40C from the French company Rémy Cointreau. The drink is made from two types of oranges - bitter and sweet. What gives it an unusual taste, starting with sweet notes and ending with an orange "explosion".

Orange peel comes from Brazil, the Antilles, Spain and southern France. It is infused in alcohol for several days, then distilled twice and mixed with sugared spring water. It is bottled in branded amber glass bottles, the design of which has not changed since 1885.

There are several types of this alcoholic drink:

Classic peel.
Noir - blend with Remy Martin cognac.
Orange Blood - from the zest of red oranges from Kortika.

Liquor is drunk as pure form as well as in cocktails. Pure Cointreau is poured into cognac glasses. Dilute degrees with tonic, soda or ice.

Reference. When water or ice is added, real Cointreau changes color to milky white, retaining its taste. This is due to high content essential oils in a drink.

Simple cocktail recipes: how and with what to drink

Orange liqueur is included in the recipe for more than 250 cocktails. Its sweet-sour notes on the palate go well with nectars, fruits and cream. Served with exotic fruits (banana, grapefruit, pineapple, kiwi) and more familiar snacks (cheese, chocolate, cranberries, apples, cherries, grapes).

Advice. Liquor is best served as an aperitif, because this drink aids digestion.

shots

Portion cocktails for one sip. Served in glasses with a volume of 50-60 ml. The peculiarity of shots or shooters is that they are designed for quick intoxication and a pleasant aftertaste that liquor gives.

Advice. Puff shots of several liqueurs are poured into a glass in a spoonful. So the drinks do not mix with each other and the cocktail will retain a beautiful “striped” look.

Royal Flush. Layered shot of 1 teaspoon lemon juice, equal parts ginger syrup, red grapefruit liqueur and Cointreau. First comes ginger syrup, then grapefruit, then juice and liqueur.
Chiwawa This is a cocktail for the brave. Pour Cointreau into the bottom of the glass, top with tequila. Set fire to alcohol and melt brown sugar in it, which should settle in drops at the bottom of the shot, and the cocktail is ready. To avoid burning your lips, run an ice cube along the rim of the glass.

Jellyfish- an unusual shot both in taste and in appearance. It consists of a thick liquor with cocoa (20-25 ml), a layer of Cointreau (15 ml) and absinthe (cognac, vodka can be used). 4 tsp are added on top. Irish cream.
Cherry Biar. Consists of vodka (15 ml), Dr. Peper soda (20 ml), Cointreau (15 ml), cherry brandy (10 g), honey (1 tsp). Pour layers of mixed vodka with honey, brandy and liquor, top with soda.
Lost. The composition of this cocktail will unbalance the most persistent. Mix 20 ml each of Absinthe, Sambuca, Jägermeister, Baileys, Cointreau, Kahlúa in a shaker and serve in a small glass over ice.
Mirage. Bright layered cocktail. Jägermeister (20 ml) is poured into the bottom of the glass, followed by mint liqueur (15 ml), Baileys (15 ml), orange liqueur (15 ml).
B-52. Delicious, beautiful and quick shot of three components in equal parts: Kalua coffee liqueur, Baileys and Cointreau. We set it on fire and drink a shot.
Woodpecker(Hakkespett). Take an equal amount of orange liqueur and Green Chartreuse, pour in layers in a glass. Set fire to the top layer, lick your palm and cover the glass. Bring to your mouth and slowly removing your hand, inhale the smoke and drink a cocktail.

Liquor looks beautiful in shots and softens the taste of other components.

Most likely you will also be interested in: how to drink Limoncello.

Watch a video on how to make Cointreau liqueur at home:

For girls

Women's orange liqueur cocktails should not only intoxicate, but please the eye and taste. Their main ingredients are fruit nectars, sparkling water, tonic. Reduce the degree and with the help of ice cubes.

White Lady. Consists of Cointreau (20 ml) shaken in a shaker with ice and gin (40 ml). Add a slice of lemon to the glass.
Cointreau Teese. The original cocktail of purple color from Cointreau whipped together (40 gr), apple juice(20 gr), Monin purple syrup (15 gr) and lemon juice (15 gr). The mixture is shaken with ice cubes and poured into a glass rubbed over the rim with ginger. Decorate with a violet flower.
Crimean cocktail. Take dry white wine (60 ml), Cointreau (15 ml), soda water (30 ml), juice of half a lemon. Mix alcohol in a shaker with ice and pour into a glass. Add remaining ingredients.
African breeze. In a glass with a rim of cane sugar put crushed ice, pour orange liqueur (25 ml), Baileys (50 ml).
Barbarella. Shake orange liqueur (50 ml) and sambuca (25 ml) with ice.
Margarita. Mix with ice Cointreau (20 gr), tequila (40 gr), lime juice (10 gr). Pour into a glass garnished with a salty rim and a lime wedge.
Cointreau Fiz(Cointreau Fizz). Combine lime juice and Cointreau, then add sparkling water (tonic). Garnish with zest.
Sidecar(Sidecar). Consists of whipped together Cointreau (20 ml), lemon juice (1 tablespoon), cognac (40 ml). Served in a glass with a sugar rim.

Quantrotini(Cointreautini). A simple yet elegant cocktail made from a mixture of Cointreau and the juice of half a lime. Pour into a martini glass with ice.
Red bubbles. Consists of Cointreau (40 gr), grape juice(50 gr) and tonic.
Solar dream. More laborious, but delicious drink. Mix in a blender ice cream (50 g), orange liqueur (20 ml), peach syrup (20 ml) and Orange juice(100 ml). Mix and serve in a tall glass with a short stem.
Lady Killer(Lady Killer). The formidable name hides a mild taste. Mix in a blender Cointreau (10 g), pineapple and mango juice (30 g each), half a peach and a banana, with a quarter of a mango. Serve with strawberry pieces.

Reference. Closest flavor to Cointreau orange liqueur Curacao liqueurs and the Grand Mariner. They can be used as a substitute.

For men

These are strong aperitifs with bright taste. It is interesting that initially Cointreau was created specifically for such cocktails and only later it was added to lighter drinks.

Kamikaze. A mixture of Cointreau (20 ml), with vodka (40 ml) and lemon juice (1 tbsp.). Mix the ingredients in a shaker and pour into glasses.
Vodka Sheffield. The composition of the drink is dominated by vodka (60 g), mixed with orange liqueur (1 tsp) and lemon juice (20 g). Served in a glass with frost.
El Presidente(El Presidente). Shake with ice light rum(50 ml), dry vermouth (10 ml), Cointreau (10 ml), the same amount of fresh lemon juice, grenadine (1 tsp), angostura (3 drops).
delta sunset(Delta Sunset). Mix in shaker with ice equal proportions triple sec, cointreau and lemon juice.
fluffy dog(Fluffy Dog). Shake equal parts orange liqueur and Baileys. Served with crushed ice.
Purple devil. In equal proportions, combine triple sec, orange liqueur, almond amaretto in a shaker. Pour into glass, add cranberry juice and 7 Up.
Tampico. Pour Cointreau, the same amount of Campari, a couple of drops of lemon juice into a glass with ice. Tonic - to taste. Stir and garnish with orange zest.

Manowar(Man O' War). Combine bourbon (50 ml), orange liqueur (a couple of drops), sweet vermouth (3 tsp) and lime juice (1 tbsp) in a shaker with crushed ice.
Scottish cobbler. Scotch whiskey (50 gr), Cointreau (10 gr) and sugar syrup(6 drops) pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and mint.
AK-47. Blended with cognac, vodka, gin, orange liqueur, bourbon, light rum, whiskey and lime juice (10g each). Can be diluted with soda.
Vermut triple. A mixture of white vermouth and gin (30 ml each), Cointreau (15 ml). Mixed without ice, served with a slice of orange and lemon.
Rhine gold. Gin (25 gr), Cointreau (15 gr), Campari and white vermouth (10 gr each). Mix in a separate glass and pour into a cocktail.
Singapore sling. A mixture of gin (30 gr) and cherry liqueur (1 tbsp.), pineapple juice(120 gr), lime juice (15 gr), Benedictine liqueur (10 gr), Cointreau (10 gr), grenadine (10 gr), Angostura beater (3 drops). Mix with ice and serve tall glass.
Bulldog mix In a shaker, mix half a lemon, a peach, a couple of sprigs of mint with sugar cane syrup (1 tsp). Add bourbon (60 gr) and Cointreau (20 ml), ice. Shake, strain into a glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Balalaika. Take equal parts vodka and lemon juice, and half as much Cointreau. Pour all ingredients into a glass with ice, garnish with lime.

These are not all cocktails where Cointreau is included. It goes well with tequila, brandy, rum, vodka and absinthe.

This alcoholic drink has a long history and has earned the love of gourmets not so much for advertising as for its unique taste properties. The aroma and astringency of an orange goes well with other drinks, as well as with ice cream, desserts, pastries and poultry meat.

Lime Cocktails:

Try the combination of sweet and tart-bitter taste and maybe you will become another fan of this wonderful alcohol.

The best snack for Cointreau

chocolate,
cranberry,
apples,
cherry,
grape;

Appetizer suitable for this case exactly the same as goes to wine, preferably more sweets, fruits and berries!

Nuances of Cointreau

The liquor has a high strength, it stimulates the appetite, so it is often served before the feast as an aperitif.
At the same time, the drink is cooled to 5-6 °, in a warmer version, citrus notes are revealed too brightly, which makes it difficult to fully enjoy the richness of taste.
It is customary to pour it into special liquor glasses and drink slowly, in small sips, savoring and enjoying.
If pure cointo seems too strong, it can be diluted. It is best to use natural grapefruit or orange juice for this purpose, the proportion of fresh juice to liquor is chosen to your taste. May be consumed with ice.
An interesting feature, in contact with cubes of frozen water, Cointreau changes color to milky blue or opal. This is related to big amount essential oils in the composition and is an excellent test of liquor for authenticity.

Liquor goes well with any other alcohol, it is not customary to mix it only with Scotch whiskey. It is also served in martini glasses, tumblers, and as part of cocktails it is served in goblets, collins, highballs, into which a drinking tube is certainly inserted. Fruit slices are used for decoration: lime, orange, carambola, mint leaves, sugar edging of the side of the vessel, various berries, decorative umbrellas.

How to make the right choice

When buying this expensive liquor, you should be wary of fakes, of course, the author's packaging complicates the process of making fakes, but vigilance does not hurt:

It is worth choosing a drink in stores with an impeccable reputation.
Too low a price - a reason to think.
Labels should be placed evenly, and all inscriptions on them should be clear, easy to read.
The original product must not have any traces of glue on the bottle, deformed corks or chips.
Liquor liquid cannot contain sediment, flakes, it must be absolutely transparent, without any inclusions and floating objects.
After chatting the bottle, you can see that the contents are not watery, but viscous.

A thorough inspection of the bottle will not take much time, but will avoid disappointment from the purchase and poisoning with low-quality ersatz.

Product history

The authorship belongs to the brothers-confectioners from France. Their first creation was a drink that to this day is loved by connoisseurs of fine alcoholic beverages, Guiglione liqueur. Unusual taste it was achieved by using sweet and sour cherries. But the next idea of Adolf and Edouard-Jean Cointreau exceeded all expectations and has not lost popularity since 1895.

Today, the original recipe is kept in strict secrecy, and the right to own it and release the liquor belongs to the concern for the production of alcoholic beverages Remi Cointreau. For those who want to see how Cointreau is born, there are guided tours of the workshops. Sweet varieties of oranges are brought to the plant from the southern part of France, sunny Spain, Brazil, and bitter ones from the shores of the Antilles. The exact proportions are a proprietary secret.

The original name of the drink sounded like Triple Sec, but later it had to be renamed Cointreau in order to avoid difficulties with obtaining a patent.

Massive popularity campaign

It is assumed that the peel of prepared oranges is infused with beetroot alcohol, after which the tincture passes double distillation, which allows you to clean it from all harmful impurities and achieve extraordinary purity of the product by removing the "head" and "tail". The middle fraction is brought to the desired taste and strength by adding sugar syrup and spring water. Whether any herbs are used in this case is not known for certain.

The original version of Cointreau liqueur is soft, sweet with a rich citrus aroma. Later, a more brutal composition called Cointreau Noir appeared, in which Remy Martin brandy joins the liquor.

The popularity of the drink was given not only by taste qualities, but also a large-scale advertising campaign, quite bold and provocative for those times. The best designers worked on the image of the liquor, its promotion to the masses, popular models and actresses were involved, and their images in the advertisement of the drink looked bold and erotic. Since 1898, advertising posters for liquor with Pierrot appeared. The fairy-tale hero changed his image on them from eternally sad and melancholic, to rather joyful and slightly intoxicated.

Especially for this product, its creators have patented a special bottle. Such a container is aimed at solving two problems at once: firstly, it emphasizes the originality of Cointreau and protects the consumer from fakes, and secondly, it creates an image elite drink for a specific class. Especially for import to the USA, a bottle was developed that depicts the Statue of Liberty, with a scattering of Swarovski crystals.

"Cointreau" (liquor) is one of the most branded drinks in France and the world as a whole. Cocktail gourmets, bartenders and connoisseurs of spirits call it the best liquor in the field of alcohol production. Cointreau is popular wherever spirits are sold and cocktails are made. In the bars of elite restaurants, nightclubs and pubs, it occupies a special place, because it is the basis for creating more than two hundred famous cocktails, including B-52, Cosmopolitan, White Lady, Margarita, Kamikaze and others. His fame is not accidental: bittersweet
the taste of orange pleasantly burns the throat, surprising with amazing taste sensations and an unexpected palette of aftertaste.

Back to the past

Orange liqueur "Cointreau" begins its triumphant journey in 1849 in France, when the brothers Edouard-Jean and Adolphe Cointreau open their own distillery for the production of alcoholic beverages from local fruits and berries in the city of Angers. A few years later (1875), Jean's son Edouard develops a unique technology for a drink made from the bitter and sweet fruits of the orange tree, and calls his masterpiece Curacao Blanco Triple Sec. The drink has the highest chances of success, because so far no one has been able to create even a liquor similar to Cointreau.

Some time later, due to the appearance on the market of another product called Triple Sec, the Cointreau family decides to give the drink its name. The name was patented, and then the special shape of the bottle - a rectangular, amber-brown color, which became the hallmark of the liquor.

Turnovers of popularity

Following the invention of the bottle, a brand poster was also invented - the hero from Pinocchio Pierrot. And years later, a commercial with his participation. "Cointreau" (liquor) began to gain rapid momentum in popularity, becoming one of the elite spirits. His fame reached even the most remote corners of the world. In the early 20th century, the liquor's annual sales reached six figures. In 1989, the brand merged with the Remy Martin company, which sells status cognac. Now Remy Cointreau is the leading alcohol corporation, and liquor is considered the best-selling drink in the world.

Liquor production

Despite the active changes in the activity of the brand-manufacturer, Cointreau continues to be created according to the old technology. The ingredients have not changed since the creation of the famous drink. The proportions and recipe of Cointreau liquor are hidden behind seven locks, but information about the main stages of its production still leaked to the general population.

This action takes place as follows: the dried zest of oranges (citrus fruits with a bitter taste) and the zest of sweet selected oranges are infused in alcohol for several days, after which the infusion is distilled twice in copper stills. The final touch is the addition of spring water and sugar syrup. Further, Cointreau orange liqueur is bottled in branded bottles and distributed throughout the planet.

Despite the fact that at first glance the technology of its production is nothing complicated, it is almost impossible to reproduce all the steps so that the taste of a home-made drink matches the true taste of Cointreau. The subtleties and special secrets of the drink have not been made public for centuries.

Heavenly taste of orange nectar

What is the secret of such a frenzied popularity of the drink? Of course, this is not only its heady fortress (40%) and the outstanding shape of the bottle. Cointreau liqueur, the price of which is not democratic, is famous and promoted due to its special delicious taste, which is akin to the nectar of the Greek gods.

The fine line of taste between bitterness, sweetness and barely perceptible acid strikes with a range of sensations: from a soft herbal aroma to a pleasantly burning sharpness of an orange. At the same time, you will not feel any tart sweetness or unpleasant bitterness - the taste is perfectly balanced and rich in fruity notes.

A rich, refreshing, delicate aftertaste remains in the mouth, and the stomach is covered with a hot, burning wave. It is the versatility, intensity, unexpected flavors of the liquor that have earned him worldwide fame and won billions of fans.

What does Cointreau look like?

Cointreau liqueur is a clear, colorless liquid. But if you pour it into a glass with ice, it will acquire a matte color and sparkle with light opal shades. This transformation is due to the fact that the drink contains essential oils. The smell is refined, slightly harsh. The liquor is as if enveloped in the refreshing aroma of juicy oranges, melting in the midday heat of a hot tropical climate.

What do they drink Cointreau with?

The liqueur is ideal for use in cocktails, but it is no less magnificent in its pure form. Slightly chilled, with pieces of ice that muffle the sweetness of the drink, it will amaze any alcohol gourmet with its exquisite citrus taste. In this form, Cointreau is served as an aperitif.

The drink is served in shot glasses, martini glasses, tumblers. As for cocktails, orange liqueur here interacts with any alcoholic beverages (except scotch whiskey), giving visitors a sea of taste emotions.

The cost of the drink

Cointreau liquor, the price of which allows only bohemia to enjoy it, can be bought at any supermarket, hypermarket or a special store for elite spirits. A miniature bottle of the legendary nectar (0.35 l) will cost you 800 rubles. A container of 0.5 liters is more expensive - about 1000 rubles, 0.7 liters - 1200-1500 rubles, cost liter bottle- 1800-2000 rubles.

Cointreau cocktail recipes

The famous Cosmopolitan cocktail is Madonna's favorite drink. Mix: vodka (30 ml), Cointreau (20 ml), cranberry juice (30), lemon (30 g), orange pulp (5 g), crushed ice. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, squeeze the lemon juice, shake the dishes well and pour the cocktail into a chilled martini glass. Garnish the glass with orange zest.

Cocktail "Kamikaze". To prepare it, you will need: Cointreau (20 ml), vodka (40 ml), lemon juice (10 ml). Pour the ingredients into a shaker, shake and pour the cocktail into a martini glass, garnishing it with a lemon wedge.

Margarita cocktail. You will need: tequila (50 ml), Cointreau liqueur (30 ml), lime juice (20 ml), 1-2 egg yolks, ice. Pour the tequila, Cointreau and lime into a shaker filled with crushed ice and shake the ingredients. Pour the "Margarita" into a Martini glass, the edges of which must first be greased with lemon slices and sprinkled with salt.

"Quanthropolitan". This cocktail from Remy Cointreau is a follower of the popular Cosmopolitan drink. Ingredients: Cointreau (50 ml), cranberry juice (30), lime juice (20), lemon zest, ice. All components are shaken in a shaker and served in a chilled glass garnished with a spiral slice of lemon.

"White Lady" is another cocktail adored by the world, where Cointreau liqueur is present. Ingredients: gin (40 ml), Cointreau (20), lime (20 g), ice cubes. All components of the divine drink are mixed in a shaker and served in a martini glass.

Layered cocktail "B-52". Components: "Kalua", "Beilis" and "Cointreau" (20 ml each). Drinks are poured into the glass in layers using a special bar spoon, after which the cocktail is set on fire and drunk in one gulp or through a straw.

The number of cocktails where Cointreau participates cannot be counted. There are a great many of them. Mixing it with brandy, you get the "Wing of the car", with vodka - "Balalaika", with gin - "Lady Killer".

This is how multifaceted the drink invented by the Cointreau brothers is! More than 130 years have passed since its appearance, but its fame continues to rumble around the world. Cointreau is a liquor whose history is admirable, and whose special taste is worthy of an army of admirers.

Among the many citrus-based alcoholic drinks, the French liqueur Cointreau leads in popularity and takes first place among connoisseurs. It is worth trying Cointreau once to remember forever its unusual and original taste and aroma. What is the secret of the composition of this orange liqueur?

In the article:

Cointreau liqueur - composition, strength and taste

Cointreau - what kind of liquor is this? Why does he enjoy such recognition? Cointreau is an orange alcoholic drink made in the best classical traditions, with a fruity-floral aroma and a strength of 40 degrees. It is transparent in itself, but if you add a piece of ice to it, it will become cloudy, this is because it contains a lot of essential oils.

Cointreau's composition is based on alcohol, water, sugar and orange peel. Sweet oranges and oranges are used - oranges that have a bitter taste, the peel of which contains a large amount of essential oils. But main secret of this drink in a unique balance of bitter and sweet taste, which is achieved by strict observance of the proportions of products. Sweet fruits give the drink an orange flavor, while oranges add a tart and savory touch of lemon and lime.

With each sip of this liquor, the taste gradually opens up: first it captures the feeling of a juicy orange, then a pleasant chill, and only after alcohol. At the end, there is a bittersweet aftertaste that lingers for a long time.

Cointreau cocktails

Homemade Cointreau liquor would be more correct to use not in its pure form, but in cocktails, as additional additives will smooth out and neutralize the sharp taste and smell of alcohol, which is heard and felt in tinctures own production. Naturally, original drink also ideal for cocktails, in which it perfectly reveals its taste and aroma.

B-52

This is a very famous cocktail and is familiar even to those who adhere to a sober lifestyle. Coffee liquor and Cointreau are taken. These drinks are poured into a stack in turn, approximately 15 ml each, layers are obtained. They usually drink such a creation quickly - in one gulp.

Quanthropolitan

It was created just for this orange liqueur. 50 ml of Cointreau are shaken in a shaker with 25 ml of cranberry juice and the same volume of lemon juice. The mixture is poured into a martini glass and garnished with a lemon peel spiral. The drink is consumed slowly to get a feel for the taste.

Kamikaze

Also popular cocktail, which includes this orange alcoholic drink. 20 ml of Cointreau, 10 ml of good vodka and 10 ml of lemon juice are poured into a shaker and everything is mixed well.

queen mary

This is not exactly a women's drink, it is also popular with men. 30 ml is mixed with a shaker quality cognac and the same amount of Cointreau with ice. Pour into a martini glass. The highlight of this cocktail is that in the end, before serving, Grenadine is also added to it. A cherry would be appropriate on top.

Cointreau orange liqueur is good both on its own and in cocktails. This drink will become a real decoration of your table.

Cointreau Cointreau- French orange liqueur, widely used as an ingredient in cocktails. It has a transparent color and is made from sweet and bitter oranges. The brand and trademark is owned by Rémy Cointreau. The strength of Cointreau Cointreau liquor is 40 degrees, calorie content is 197 kcal per 100 grams of product.

The face of the company is Laetitia Casta, until 2007 the face of Rémy Cointreau and Cointreau in particular was Dita Von Teese.

What is Cointreau liqueur made of and how?

As mentioned above, Cointreau liqueur is made from bitter and sweet oranges, moreover, the most oil-rich part of oranges, the zest, is used. Bitter oranges come from the Antilles, sweet oranges for the production of Cointreau liqueur come from Brazil, southern France and Spain.

orange peel infused with alcohol obtained from the distillation of grain or sugar beets. Then the infusion is distilled twice in copper cubes of the Sharan type. Fortress and sweetness are brought to the final values by dilution with spring water and sugar syrup. Ready drink it is checked for strength, for sugar, its transparency and density are studied, as well as the ability to create an opal shade in contact with water.

How to drink Cointreau liqueur?

Cointreau liqueur can be used as a dessert in its pure form, as well as with ice. It is an essential attribute of parties, an ingredient for a large number alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. When in contact with ice or water, Cointreau acquires an opal, milky blue hue.

Cointreau cocktails

Kahlua liqueur - 20
Liqueur Baileys - 20
Liqueur Cointreau - 20

Not difficult classic cocktail, which is poured in layers into a stack. First - Kahlúa coffee liqueur, then - creamy Baileys, then - orange Cointreau. Served on fire.

40ml vodka
15 ml Cointreau
7ml fresh lemon juice
30ml cranberry juice
orange peel

Everything is mixed in a shaker and poured into a martini glass. The cocktail gained great popularity after Sex and the City.

Cost of Cointreau liqueur

A bottle of Cointreau liquor costs about 1000-1500 rubles for a 0.7 liter bottle.

Cointreau liqueur recipe at home

To make Cointreau liquor at home, we need:

vodka - 1 liter;
orange - 3 pcs;
grapefruit (or lemon) - 1 piece;
sugar - 200 grams;
black pepper - 5 peas;
red pepper - 1 gram;
Bay leaf- 1 piece.

Cooking begins with the fact that the lemon and orange need to be scalded with boiling water. This will remove wax or other chemical additives from the crusts. After that, it is required to remove the zest from oranges and lemons. A potato peeler or grater is ideal for this. But you can also use a simple knife. It is advisable not to reach the white pulp of the orange, otherwise the liquor will be too bitter.

Chopped and prepared zest must be put in a jar, where you should also add pepper, sugar, bay leaf. It should be noted that if you are going to further distill the shutter speed (as in original recipe) - then sugar should not be added. After 5 hours, it is worth getting a bay leaf from the jar.

Standing products in vodka or alcohol should take at least a week, after which finished product poured through cheesecloth into bottles.

Ideally, the resulting mixture should be distilled twice into moonshine still, cutting off the "head" and "tail" ("head" and "tail" of the first stage can be added for secondary distillation). During the second distillation, it is also necessary not to take the head (the first 20-30 ml of the fraction), which contain great amount fusel oils. Otherwise, when adding water, the drink will become cloudy. After distillation, the resulting alcohol is diluted with sugar syrup to a strength of 40%.

History of Cointreau

Cointreau liqueur was invented by Adolf and Edouard-Jean Cointreau, brothers who opened a distillery in Angers in 1849. They were engaged in the creation of liqueurs, starting with wild cherries, gradually expanding the range to 50 items. In 1875, orange liqueur was born, the progenitor of modern Cointreau liqueur. Both bitter and sweet varieties of oranges were used there at the same time. In addition, the liquor had amazing transparency. In 1892, the drink was patented, as well as its name and recognizable bottle.

Initially, the liquor was called Triple Sec, however, this name was abandoned, as there were difficulties with the patent for this name.

Orange liqueur Cointreau, born a century and a half ago, as a tribute to fashion and the most cost-effective drink for the manufacturer, soon turned into something special, aristocratic and chic. For more than a century, there are liqueurs in the world, and there is Cointreau.

The rich orange taste of the drink has a bright trail, in which everyone discovers something only for themselves. The full composition of the liqueur is kept in strict confidence. Therefore, the mysteries that accompany this sweet, bitter, spicy and mild taste allow Cointreau to maintain its popularity throughout the world.

Composition and preparation technology

The Cointreau recipe includes:

zest of bitter oranges (Antilles);
sweet orange zest (Southern France);
spring water (sources of the Anjou region in France);
sugar syrup;
alcohol (wheat or beet).

All other components of the drink are classified. It is impossible to say for sure, but Cointreau connoisseurs distinguish flavors of cinnamon, cayenne pepper and bay leaf.

Preparing Cointreau in several stages.

1. Orange peel (and other secret ingredients) is infused in alcohol throughout the day.

2. The resulting infusion is distilled twice (only copper stills are used).

3. Sugar syrup and spring water are added to the base of the liquor (the strength of the drink should not exceed 40 degrees).

The product is bottled in dark square bottles, the design of which was developed back in the 19th century.

How to drink: pure taste or cocktail base?

Cointreau is drunk in its pure form, adding ice to reduce sweetness so that the drink reveals its amazing bouquet more fully. But cocktails with this liquor began to be prepared a hundred years ago.

On status classic drinks may well claim:

Cointreau fiz - liqueur, soda, lime;
B-52 - coffee liqueur (20 ml), cream liqueur (20 ml), Cointreau (25 ml), prepared by layering;
Margarita - tequila (2 parts), lime juice (2 parts), liqueur (1 part);
Long Island Ice Tea - liqueur, light rum, gin, vodka, tequila (15 ml each), black tea (30 ml), lemon juice (30 ml), cola (to taste). Served in a tall glass with ice;
Green Mile - liquor (40 ml), absinthe (40 ml), kiwi (1 piece). The ingredients are whipped in a blender with ice.

Connoisseurs especially appreciate Cointreau's property to slightly "fog" from contact with water or ice. This is a sign of the naturalness of the drink and the abundance of essential orange oils in it. Cocktails with Cointreau never lose the taste of liquor, no matter how insignificant the amount of drink in the glass is.

Cook at home

It is impossible to cook the original Cointreau at home. The recipe below allows you to make only an analogue famous liquor. It is necessary to prepare:

vodka - one liter;
lemon - 1 piece;
oranges - 3 pieces;
sugar - 200 grams;
black pepper - 5 peas;
red pepper (ground) - 1 pinch;
bay leaf - 2 leaves.

The cooking process will not seem laborious even to the most inexperienced owner.

1. Cut the zest from the lemon and oranges - the thinner the better. Put in a clean and dry jar.

2. Add spices.

3. Pour vodka.

4. Add sugar.

5. We seal the jar hermetically. Mix everything thoroughly, shake.

6. We send the liquor to "ripen" in a dark place for 4-5 days.

7. We pass the drink through a gauze filter, pour it into dark bottles.

The resulting taste will be close to the original, homemade liqueur also "foggy" when in contact with ice. But even a not too sophisticated lover of the "orange aristocrat" will be able to understand that home product cannot repeat the miracle that is called the classic Cointreau.

History of the orange miracle

When the Cointreau brothers opened their distillery in the middle of the 19th century, they could not even imagine that they would create a legendary liquor that would bypass the popularity of alcohol from such a venerable producer as Curacao. Their ambitions were much more modest: the brothers set up production sweet tincture based on wild cherries.

The first modest success inspired one of the brothers, who in ten years expanded the range of liqueurs produced to three dozen. orange drink was also present, but did not have much success, he disappeared among the multitude of his own kind.

The son of one of the Cointreau brothers, Eduard, in 1875 creates a liquor that is prepared on the basis of both bitter and sweet oranges. The product was released, but it began to have success later, when Cointreau began to be bottled in special "square" bottles, a recognizable label appeared.

The real success for the liquor came when an advertising movie was shot about it (the very first in the world, in 1898). By the beginning of the 20th century, Cointreau acquired the very taste that is known throughout the world today.

The company - a manufacturer of popular alcohol - was a tasty object for large industrialists. In 1989, the Remi Martin cognac corporation bought the Cointreau factories. Today in stores you can see a drink called Cointreau Noir, an orange liqueur based on cognac.