The 7 Best Triple Secs for the Perfect Cosmo, Mai Tai, or Margarita

Best Overall

Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

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“Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is extremely balanced,” says Crystal Chasse, beverage director at Talk Story Rooftop at the McCarren Hotel in Brooklyn, New York. “Designed in conjunction with David Wondrich [a notable spirits expert and historian], this Curaçao is created in the traditional French triple-sec style with three separate distillations blended together.”

Pierre Ferrand already produced delicious Cognac, gin, and rum before its collaboration with Wondrich. The orange peels used during distillation give this dry Curaçao a strong citrus note that isn't saccharine or cloying, says Gavin Humes, director of operations for the Scratch Restaurants Group in Los Angeles. It can be used in any cocktail calling for Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or triple sec.

Price at time of publish: $30

Region: France | Bottle Size: 750 mL | ABV: 40%

Best Orange Liqueur

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge

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“Grand Marnier orange liqueur is a strong, but smooth liqueur that effortlessly blends citrus notes with that of tons of Cognac,” says Juan Fernandez, beverage director at The Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Grand Marnier is technically a blend between Curaçao and triple sec. With a recipe developed in 1880 by Jean Baptiste Lapostolle at a distillery near Paris, Grand Marnier starts with Cognac and distills the grape spirit through bitter orange essence and sugar. “It is very enjoyable neat, on the rocks or in addition to cocktails,” says Fernandez. Or, use it in savory dishes and classic French desserts: perhaps Grand Marnier truffles, a Grand Marnier cake, or a baked chicken Grand Marnier.

Fun fact: the bottle was originally named Curaçao Marnier because of its high brandy content, but after Cesar Ritz, the founder of the Ritz Hotel, dubbed it a "grand liqueur," the name was changed.

Price at time of publish: $40 for 750 mL

Region: France | Bottle Sizes: 200 mL, 375 mL, 750mL, 1 L, 1,14 L, 1,75 L | ABV: 40%

Most Unique

Rhum Clement Créole Shrubb D'Orange Liqueur

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“I really enjoy Rhum Clement Créole Shrubb,” says Rob Vogel, bar manager at Monarque in Baltimore. “This intense orange liqueur is made with Agricole rhum that lends to aromas of fresh-cut grass and lemon peel. Clement has also added the 'secret' Creole spices that contribute to wonderful warming flavors.”

Rhum Clement combines white and six-year-old Agricole rhums (French rhums made with sugarcane rather than molasses) then macerates in Creole spices and sun-bleached bitter orange peels. The spirit then has cane sugar syrup added to it before bottling. Consider it similar to Grand Marnier, but with more complex spice and a beautiful smoothness to the bottle. 

Vogel suggests experimenting with this orange liqueur during the cooler months. Consider using this in a Creole Royale (Champagne plus a dash of Angostura bitters) or a Sidecar.

Price at time of publish: $38

Region: Martinique | Bottle Size: 750 mL | ABV: 40%

Best for Cosmos

Cointreau Liqueur

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“In my humble opinion (and I'm positive I'm not alone in this) there is pretty much only one orange liqueur worth a damn when considering traditional components to most classic cocktails,” says Drew Johnson, the head bartender at Michelin-starred The Musket Room in New York City. “That liqueur is of course Cointreau."

Cointreau was invented in 1865 and is still one of the best-known brands of triple sec available. Made with bitter and sweet orange peels, and sugar beet alcohol, this triple sec has a crisp orange flavor and a balanced sweetness that shines in cosmopolitans. At 80 proof, try it in a margarita, but don’t skip on sipping it over ice.

Price at time of publish: $40 for 750 mL

Region: France | Bottle Sizes: 375 mL, 750 mL, 1 L, 1.75 L | ABV: 40%

Best for Whiskey Sours

Lazzaroni Triplo Triple Sec Orange Liqueur

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This bottle is interesting as it combines both Caribbean Curaçao heritage with European triple Sec tradition. Lazzaroni uses both bitter oranges from Curaçao and the peel of sweet oranges from Sicily to give the liqueur a bright citrus flavor with sweetness. This bottle lends itself well to citrus-forward vacation drinks, like cosmopolitans, mai tais, and margaritas, but also plays well against brown spirits in a whiskey or amaretto sour.

The Lazzaroni family started their brand in the 18th century as a cookie business, making more than 300 different types of cookies that became beloved around Italy. They eventually branched out into making sweets-inspired spirits. Now, Lazzaroni produces a range of traditional liqueurs meant for sipping neat or in cocktails, including an exceptional amaretto.

Price at time of publish: $28

Region: Italy | Bottle Size: 750 mL | ABV: 38%

Best for Long Island Iced Teas

Bols Triple Sec 30 Proof

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“My winner of the best triple sec goes to Bols,” says Alex Pendergrass, the assistant director of food and beverage at Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island. “It’s very fragrant with tons of orange peel on the palate.” That means it shines through the multiple layers of alcohol in a Long Island iced tea.

Bols' triple sec is made from the peels of Curacao oranges, balanced with a rainbow of complementary citrus distillates. This bottle is 30 proof, far lower than many of the other options on this list.

The spirit is crystal-clear in color, and on the palate, it’s slightly dry with a candied sweetness and cinnamon heat. The Dutch can be credited with inventing Curaçao, so expect tradition to go into this Dutch-made bottle. Bols is one of the oldest distilleries in the world, with a history dating to 1575.

Price at time of publish: $8

Region: Netherlands | Bottle Size: 750 mL | ABV: 15%