Got a bottle of Cointreau that’s collecting dust? Make these cocktails.

Everyone has a bottle of Cointreau sitting at the back of their pantry collecting dust. It’s a liqueur that’s often overlooked – and always underappreciated. Instead of allowing it to grow into the pantry walls (like that character from Pirates of the Caribbean) we suggest showing it off in some delish cocktails. But first, what the hell is Cointreau? Glad you asked.

Cointreau is an orange-flavoured triple sec liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. It can be served as an aperitif or digestif, but these days, it’s a super popular ingredient in cocktails: about 350 of them, in fact. In terms of taste, Cointreau is zesty, floral, super fresh and sweet. It’s also beautifully well-rounded, which makes it perfect for mixing. With that in mind, here are a few of our fave Cointreau cocktails.

Margarita

Ah, the beloved Marg. It’s the eighth best-selling cocktail in the world, and number two in Australia, according to Cointreau. This tequila-based tipple has been a crowd favourite since Margaret “Margarita” Sames created it in 1948. Her idea was an easy-drinking daytime cocktail that featured her two fave bevvies – Cointreau and tequila – and hey presto, the Marg was born. Many people don’t realise Cointreau is actually a main ingredient of the Marg, let alone a founding ingredient. And if you want to make a quality Marg, the trick is to use quality ingredients. A touch of salt, good tequila, good limes, good triple sec – and it doesn’t get any better than Cointreau. As Margaret Sames always proclaimed: “A Margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt.”

White Lady

This is pretty close to a Margarita, but it’s made with gin, and subs the lime for lemon. If you’re not a fan of tequila or limes for some reason (erm, what?), this is the Cointreau cocktail for you. Beautifully refreshing and zesty, with an added foam top, the White Lady is a wonderfully delicate drink. It owes its popularity to bar industry heavyweight Harry Craddock, who first noted the recipe in the cocktail library regular The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930). The recipe calls for egg whites, but if you’re not a fan of egg in your drink, you can sub it for aquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas) or Wonderfoam.

Mai Tai

If you’re after a drink that can be sipped while wearing a Hawaiian shirt and thongs, this is the drink you should try. Created in 1944 by Victor Bergeron at his restaurant Trader Vic’s in California, the Mai Tai was originally just a way to move his 17-year-old Jamaican rum stock, but soon became a fan fave. The Mai Tai is a fun mix of rum, orange curaçao or Cointreau, orgeat (a sweet syrup) and lime juice. Orange curaçao is sweeter and more spice-forward than Cointreau, so try mixing a Mai Tai with Cointreau for a drier, crisper flavour. It makes for a super-refreshing, zesty drink that has just the right amount of sweetness.

Cosmo

Where would Carrie Bradshaw be without this truly iconic Cointreau cocktail? That’s right, we’re talking about the early 2000s ‘It girl’ cocktail, the Cosmopolitan. A fruity, sweet pink (yes, pink) drink that peaked in popularity around the same time Sex and the City graced our screens. Coincidence? We think not. The drink’s popularity died off at (pretty much) the same time SATC did, but we reckon this cocktail is due for a comeback. It’s perfect as a before- or after-dinner drink, it’s light and pretty versatile. How? Well, if you're not a fan of vodka, you can switch it out for gin to make it a London Cosmopolitan. And if gin isn’t your style, splash in some tequila instead to make it a Rude Cosmopolitan.

Cable Car

If you’re after a rum cocktail that’s more of a modern classic, then get to know the Cable Car. Created in 1996 by Tony Abou-Ganim (AKA The Modern Mixologist) at the Starlight Room in San Francisco, the Cable Car cocktail was made to showcase Captain Morgan spiced rum. After experimenting, Abou-Ganim settled on a twist on the popular Side Car cocktail (another Cointreau drink), subbing the Cognac for spiced rum. Its rise and fame was short-lived, but the Cable Car deserves a triumphant return, especially if you have a bottle of Cointreau that needs using.