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Cointreau History

Born during the Industrial Revolution and bred of La Belle Époque, Cointreau has innovation in its DNA. From the entrepreneurial flair of a liquorist-distiller who created the House in 1849, to Édouard Cointreau releasing his recipe for a unique French orange liqueur, to more than 300 international awards won since, Cointreau’s rich history is marked by many milestones.

1849–1875

A family affair

  • first distillery

    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 favorite, the Guignolet. That is when the destiny of the Cointreau distillery begins to take shape.

  • first distillery

    1849

    Drawing on its well-established fruit expertise, the House expands its range to include many flavors: strawberry, plum, cherry, and more. More than 50 essences are marketed, reaching well beyond the scope of regional fruits.

  • Édouard-Jean Cointreau

    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 Anger’s rue Molière, flanking the Maine River, to promote the export of their liqueurs.

  • First inventory

    1857

    Orange liqueur first appears in the Cointreau brothers’ recipe books and Cointreau receives its first award at the Laval Exhibition in France.

  • Edouard Cointreau

    1875

    Since he was a child, Édouard Cointreau, son of Édouard-Jean, dreamed of joining the family business. This became a reality in 1875, when he and his wife, Louisa, continued the entrepreneurial adventure.

  • Edouard Cointreau

    1875

    Édouard refined the House’s focus on the orange, a rare and precious fruit with unheard-of potential at the time, while Louisa focused on developing an avant-garde social policy for employees. The power couple had a clear vision for Cointreau, and were determined to see their venture through.

1885-1893

THE BIRTH OF AN ICON

  • Crystaline liqueur

    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 flavor and less sweet than the liqueurs of the time.

  • Cointreau trademarks

    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.

  • Medal

    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.

  • French Exhibition in Moscow

    1891

    Cointreau is a member of the jury for the French Exhibition in Moscow, boosting sales in the Tsar Empire.

  • Chicago World's fair

    1893

    Cointreau medals at the World’s Fair in Chicago, marking the brands first steps in the Americas.

1898-1922

SPOTLIGHT ON COINTREAU

  • Pierrot Cointreau

    1898

    Cointreau begins its storied advertising saga. The brand sets up an in-house advertising studio, where the beloved “Pierrot Cointreau” character was created by Nicolas Tamagno, a celebrated portrait artist at the time.

  • Pierrot Cointreau movie

    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.

  • award paris

    1900

    Cointreau’s growing success is recognized with several awards at the World’s Fair in Paris, this time in front of 50 million visitors.

  • award hanoi

    1902

    Cointreau participates in the Hanoi Exhibition and strengthens its position in the Asian market.

  • advertising car

    1903

    The Cointreau Advertising Car hits the road in France, a novel marketing concept devised by Édouard Cointreau.

  • award milan

    1906

    Cointreau obtains an out-of-competition award at the Milan International Exhibition.

  • Der mixologist

    1913

    First mention of Cointreau in Der Mixologist by Carl A. Seutter.

  • ABC of mixing

    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

  • Louisa

    1923

    Édouard Cointreau passes away and his legacy is continued by his sons Louis and André, who served as International Salesman and Distillery Director, respectively. Production is modernized and social policies are also introduced, an effort driven by Édouard’s widow, Louisa.

  • UFF

    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 would be promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1939.

  • Margarita

    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.”

  • Centenaire

    1949

    Cointreau celebrates its centennial with a parade in Angers, where the company’s “Centenaire Cointreau” chariot rolls through the city streets.

  • Au clair de la Lune, mon ami Pierrot

    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 shows Harlequin and Colombine with Pierrot—and is the last major campaign featuring the brand’s emblem

  • cocktails

    1955

    The Cointreau Fizz appears in Cocktails by Jean Lupoïu, President of The French Barmen’s Association and bartender at Paris’s Plaza Athenée.

  • carré

    1972

    Following strong sales development, the brand inaugurates its new Saint-Barthélemy d’Anjou distillery.

1988-2019

THE SAGA LIVES ON

  • cosmopolitan

    1988

    In New York City, Toby Cecchini creates the Cosmopolitan using Cointreau.

  • Remy Cointreau

    1989

    In 1989, Cointreau merged with Cognac producer Rémy Martin, creating the powerful international group Rémy Cointreau. The historical agreement was signed in the Cointreau Carré distillery.

  • Alfred Cointreau

    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.

  • carole quinton master distiller of the house cointreau

    2016

    Carole Quinton named Cointreau’s Master Distiller, “nose” of the House and guardian of the brand’s historic savoir-faire.

  • Night-Time Walks

    2017

    Alfred Cointreau publishes Night-Time Walks, a guide to mixology and bars around the world.

  • The Art of the Mix

    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.

  • 170th anniversary

    2019

    Maison Cointreau celebrates its 170th anniversary.

2022- TODAY

A new era of innovation

  • Cointreau bottle

    2022

    Cointreau L'Unique revamped bottle

  • Cointreau Awards 2022

    2022

    Cointreau L’Unique has garnered 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.

  • Cointreau Awards 2023

    2023

    In 2023, Cointreau L’Unique won 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.

  • RTD

    2024

    Cointreau embraced 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.

  • Citrus Series

    2024

    Cointreau launched 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 was unveiled in Corsica, bringing together top global bartenders to celebrate its arrival.

  • Cointreau Awards 2024

    2024

    Cointreau achieved 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.

In 1885, Edouard Cointreau achieved his vision by creating a perfectly balanced and concentrated liqueur. Cointreau emerged as a crystalline spirit with a unique flavor profile, setting it apart from the sweeter liqueurs of that era.

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Angers is a city in the west of France. It is the capital of the historical province called Anjou which is now Maine-et-Loire. It is the birthplace of Cointreau.

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