Cointreau Orange Liqueur (75cl, 40%)

Cointreau is a clear orange liqueur in a triple-sec style, made at Saint-Barthelemy-d'Anjou near Angers in the Loire Valley and bottled at 40%. It follows the recipe Edouard Cointreau devised in 1875, with sweet and bitter orange peels macerated in sugar-beet alcohol and then distilled. It turns opalescent over ice. The nose is zesty orange peel and mandarin, with floral hints and a little spice. The palate begins with sweet orange, then bitter-orange zest, lemon and gentle warm spice. The finish is dry and crisp, with lingering citrus oils. It is used in the Margarita, Sidecar and Cosmopolitan.