Is Cointreau a Triple Sec ?

This is a matter of hot debate! One thing is for sure: There are many triple secs, but only one Cointreau. 

Why? Simply because a triple sec is the generic name used for any orange-flavored spirit, while Cointreau actually goes a step further.

By using Cointreau in your cocktails, you add the guarantee of exceptional richness of more than 40 aromas, quality sweet and bitter orange peels from the world’s finest terroirs, and over 170 years of know-how - all resulting in a perfectly balanced cocktail.

There are many triple secs, but only one Cointreau. 

Triple sec is a generic term for any orange-flavored spirit, with no specific rules around the method of production or quality criteria¹. Since there is no official legal definition, nor specific quality requirements that must be met to carry this name, there can be significant differences between one triple sec and another¹.

Created by Édouard Cointreau in 1885, Cointreau is a product passed down through generations of liquorists and distillers in the Cointreau family, making our signature orange liqueur from meticulous orange peel selection to artisanal blending and distillation. Cointreau also implements a system of analyses at every stage of the process to ensure organoleptic excellence.