A medium shot of Alfred Cointreau holding a bottle of Cointreau Orange liqueur in front of a dark background with bokeh

Meet Alfred Cointreau

Sixth generation of the Cointreau family

  • Cocktail Talks
Alfred Cointreau is part of the sixth generation of the Cointreau family and was born and raised in Angers, France. This alone would make him the ideal candidate for Heritage Manager of Maison Cointreau. But the thirty-something doesn’t rest on the laurels of his last name.
A medium shot of Alfred Cointreau in brown blazer with colourful bow tie standing in garden

A family history

His personality was molded by his family history, his meaningful personal encounters, fed by an insatiable curiosity and an unrelenting passion for cocktail culture. Originally not destined to be in the family business, Alfred remembers his grandfather, a faux retiree, continuing to frequent the distillery daily. He had an inimitable passion for his craft, which he passed on to his grandson. In addition to being a father of two spirited little girls, Louison and Suzanne, Alfred serves as Heritage Manager for the family business and is responsible for keeping up the culture of Maison Cointreau.

After trying his hand at various distillery roles, from unloading bags of orange zest to bottling to the art of distillation, Alfred decided he preferred being out in the world. A man of many talents (except sitting behind a desk), Alfred spends his time moving around, meeting people, and exploring bars. As long as he hears the clinking of ice cubes, he feels at home. Wherever he may be in the world, he always finds time to slide up to a bar, keeping his illustrious origins to himself, and give the bartender carte blanche. Champion of the orange label, Alfred Cointreau embodies the sensitivity and tranquil lifestyle typical of Angers, and is proud to share them with the rest of the world.

Alfred’s confessions

Can you share a family anecdote?

At my grandparents’ house, it was always my grandmother Élisabeth – the wife of my grandfather Pierre Cointreau – who made cocktails. He was very fond of telling us the family history, especially his memories of Édouard, his own grandfather who invented Cointreau. In a way, I’m passing on those traditions today.

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What makes you tick?

Working  with  bartenders  is  really  exciting. Especially to observe new cocktail  trends,  but  also  to  chat  with experts about the organoleptic richness  of  Cointreau  liqueur.  Lastly, I love hosting masterclasses for people just discovering the art of  the  cocktail.  That  pride  when  they make their first cocktail... it’s indescribable. I sometimes feel like I’m reliving my first attempts!


The secret to a good cocktail?

I rely on three things:

  1. A single base, namely Cointreau, to create infinite possibilities.

  2. In the words of my grandmother: “A  cocktail  is  enjoyed  first  with  the  eyes—take  care  of  the  presentation!”

  3. Prioritise seasonal fruits and fresh products; they have far more flavour.

Find your cocktail


What is your favourite cocktail?

The Margarita. It goes without saying that  the  Margarita  is  especially  valuable  to  me,  since  I  learned  how  to  make  it  from  my  maternal  grandmother’s side – a woman that no superlative can describe!

The Original Margarita


The Original Margarita cocktail with salted rim and lime garnish on wooden bar surface

Cocktails

The Original Margarita

A beginner-level strong cocktail, it is perfect for an aperitif and best enjoyed in summer.

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Discover Alfred’s
cocktail top list

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4 out of 5 stars

The Original Margarita

Fruity & Sour

Beginner

4 out of 5 stars

Cosmopolitan

Bitter & Sour

Intermediate

4 out of 5 stars

Lavender Lady

Floral & Fruity

Intermediate

4 out of 5 stars

Sidecar

Dry & Sour

Intermediate

4 out of 5 stars

Cosmorita

Fruity & Sour

Intermediate

4 out of 5 stars

Lady Hamilton

Sour

Intermediate

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Medium shot of Master distiller Carole Quinton in front of a blurry background with bokeh

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