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Cointreau History
Forged in the Industrial Revolution and refined during La Belle Époque, Cointreau was destined for innovation.
Our story starts in 1849 with the audacious vision of a liquorist-distiller. It then soared with Édouard Cointreau's revolutionary French orange liqueur recipe, leading to a legacy of over 300 international awards. Cointreau's history isn't just rich; it's a tapestry woven with constant breakthroughs.
1849–1875
A FAMILY AFFAIR
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1849
Amid the euphoria of the French Industrial Revolution, Adolphe Cointreau, an Angers confectioner at the time, decides to diversify the family business to include liqueurs, starting with a local favourite, the Guignolet. This is when the destiny of the Cointreau distillery begins to take shape.
1849
Drawing on its well-established fruit expertise, the House expands its range to include many flavours: strawberry, plum, cherry, and more. More than 50 essences are marketed, reaching well beyond the scope of regional fruits.
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1856
Faced with a boom in the company and in trade, Édouard-Jean Cointreau, Adolphe’s brother, joins the family business. Together, the two brothers move the distillery to Angers’ rue Molière, flanking the Maine River, to promote the export of their liqueurs.
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1857
Orange liqueur first appears in the Cointreau brothers’ recipe books and Cointreau receives its first award at the Laval Exhibition in France.
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1875
Since childhood, Édouard Cointreau, son of Édouard-Jean, dreamed of joining the family business. This becomes a reality in 1875, when he and his wife, Louisa, continue the entrepreneurial adventure.
1875
Édouard refines the House’s focus on the orange, a rare and precious fruit with unheard-of potential at the time, while Louisa develops an avant-garde social policy for employees. The power couple has a clear vision for Cointreau, determined to see their venture through.
1885–1893
THE BIRTH OF AN ICON
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1885
After several years of relentless research and experimentation, Édouard Cointreau succeeds in creating what he had imagined: a perfectly balanced, crystalline liqueur that’s three times more concentrated in flavour and less sweet than the liqueurs of the time.
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1885
The liqueur is the result of a precise blend of dried and fresh sweet and bitter orange peels. Édouard Cointreau registers trademarks for the Cointreau brand and its distinctive square bottle with the Commercial Court of Angers.
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1889
Cointreau installs one of its copper alembics at the World’s Fair in Paris, which draws 32 million visitors. The brand is awarded a medal for the quality of its liqueur.
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1891
Cointreau is a member of the jury for the French Exhibition in Moscow, boosting sales in the Tsarist Empire.
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1893
Cointreau medals at the World’s Fair in Chicago, marking the brand’s first steps in the Americas.
1898–1922
SPOTLIGHT ON COINTREAU
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1898
Cointreau begins its storied advertising adventure. The brand sets up an in-house advertising studio, where the beloved “Pierrot Cointreau” character is created by Nicolas Tamagno, a celebrated portrait artist at the time.
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1898
The first-ever film commercial in history was also created by an operator for pioneering filmmakers the Lumière Brothers. The spot features the brand’s new mascot, Pierrot.
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1900
Cointreau’s growing success is recognised with several awards at the World’s Fair in Paris, this time in front of 50 million visitors.
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1902
Cointreau participates in the Hanoi Exhibition and strengthens its position in the Asian market.
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1903
The Cointreau Advertising Car hits the road in France, a novel marketing concept devised by Édouard Cointreau.
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1906
Cointreau obtains an out-of-competition award at the Milan International Exhibition.
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1913
First mention of Cointreau in Der Mixologist by Carl A. Seutter.
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1922
The first recipes for the Sidecar, created with Cointreau, appear in Harry MacElhone’s Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails and Robert Vermeire’s Cocktails: How to Mix Them.
1923–1972
THE AGE OF MATURITY
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1923
Édouard Cointreau passes away and his legacy is continued by his sons Louis and André, who serve as International Salesman and Distillery Director, respectively. Production is modernized and social policies are also introduced, an effort driven by Édouard’s widow, Louisa.
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1929
Louisa Cointreau is appointed Knight of the Legion of Honor by the Ministry of War and Chairman of the Angevin Committee of the Union of Women of France. She gets promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1939.
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1948
The emblematic Margarita is created in Acapulco by American socialite Margaret Sames, who famously claimed, “A Margarita without Cointreau isn’t worth its salt.”
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1949
Cointreau celebrates its centennial with a parade in Angers, where the company’s “Centenaire Cointreau” chariot rolls through the city streets.
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1954
Jean-Adrien Mercier, one of the most celebrated young advertising talents of the time and grandson of Édouard Cointreau, creates “Au clair de la Lune, mon ami Pierrot.” The poster and film campaign show Harlequin and Colombine with Pierrot—and is the last major campaign featuring the brand’s emblem.
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1955
The Cointreau Fizz appears in Cocktails by Jean Lupoïu, President of The French Barmen’s Association and bartender at Paris’s Plaza Athénée.
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1972
Following strong sales development, the brand inaugurates its new Saint-Barthélemy d’Anjou distillery.
1988–2019
THE ADVENTURE LIVES ON
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1988
In New York City, Toby Cecchini creates the Cosmopolitan using Cointreau.
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1989
In 1989, Cointreau merges with Cognac producer Rémy Martin, creating the powerful international group Rémy Cointreau. The historic agreement is signed in the Cointreau Carré distillery.
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2011
Alfred Cointreau, sixth generation of the Cointreau family, is named Brand Ambassador and Heritage Manager. Cointreau also wins gold for Cointreau Noir and bronze for Cointreau Blood Orange Liqueur at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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2016
Carole Quinton is named Cointreau’s Master Distiller, “nose” of the House and guardian of the brand’s historic savoir-faire.
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2017
Alfred Cointreau publishes Night-Time Walks, a guide to mixology and bars around the world.
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2018
Cointreau launches a new international advertising campaign, “The Art of the Mix.” The campaign features a dance inspired by the brand’s four most iconic cocktails—the Margarita, the Cointreau Fizz, the Sidecar, and the Cosmopolitan.
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2019
Maison Cointreau celebrates its 170th anniversary.
2022–TODAY
A NEW ERA OF INNOVATION
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2022
Cointreau Original revamps bottle
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2022
Cointreau Original earns significant accolades, including a Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge, an impressive 98/100 score in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy, and a Silver Medal at the Bartender Spirits Awards.
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2023
In 2023, Cointreau Original wins several awards, including Double Gold at the Sip Awards, Gold at the International Spirits Challenge, a near-perfect 96/100 score at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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2024
Cointreau embraces innovation in 2024 by launching "Cointreau Cocktail Twists," a ready-to-drink line of pre-mixed cocktails developed by Master Distiller Carole Quinton to deliver a convenient and high-quality taste of their signature cocktails.
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2024
Cointreau launches its "Cointreau Citrus Series" with "Opus #1: The Corsican Pomelo", a double-distilled pomelo spirit created with bartenders in mind. This exceptional addition to the Cointreau family is unveiled in Corsica, bringing together top global bartenders to celebrate its arrival.
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2024
Cointreau achieves great recognition in 2024, garnering top awards including Double Gold at the Sip Awards, Gold at the Bartender Spirits Awards, and more awards from esteemed competitions like the International Spirits Challenge, International Wine & Spirits Competition, and Spirit Business Awards.
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2025
Cointreau launches its "Cointreau Citrus Spritz": Crafted with Cointreau L’Unique, French white wine and natural citrus flavours and juices, Cointreau Citrus Spritz delivers a well-balanced cocktail, designed for modern lifestyles and spontaneous connections.
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2025
Cointreau launches its "Cointreau Cocktail Twists": The Maison goes one step further by launching two bold new Margarita recipes in a sleek, ready-to-drink can format.
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