10 Best Triple Sec Cocktails

Treat yourself to a tasty tipple this weekend. These top 10 Triple Sec cocktails have you covered.

If you’re unfamiliar, triple sec is a French liqueur made from orange bitters.

Triple Sec Cocktails & Drink Recipes

An excellent mixer, triple sec is present in many classic cocktails we know and love. In fact, it’s been adding a hint of citrus to cocktails since 1875!

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into these timeless tipples, from margaritas & mimosas to my poison of choice, red wine sangria.

Get your cocktail shaker ready – it’s time to try these cocktail recipes!

1. Cosmopolitan 

I first heard of the Cosmopolitan from Carrie Bradshaw, the lead character in the hit ‘90s TV show, Sex and the City. 

This stunning pink elixir is Carrie’s favorite cocktail, so as a fan, I knew I had to give it a shot. It only took one sip to understand why she loved it so much.

The Cosmopolitan is a mix of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.

It’s sweet, but not overly sweet. The citrus notes from the triple sec and lime juice make it so.

Ingredients: vodka, triple sec (e.g. Grand Marnier or Cointreau), cranberry juice cocktail, lime juice, orange peel/twist, ice

2. Triple Sec Margarita 

Margaritas are one of, if not the most popular cocktail of all time.

I can’t think of a better way to welcome the weekend than with a glass of this classic drink.

I have featured many different recipes for margaritas, but honestly, nothing beats the OG.

The combination of sweet and citrus creates a refreshing balance of flavors.

Three simple ingredients are all it takes to create this bright and beautiful beverage.

With a little bit of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, you can make magic.

Ingredients: tequila, triple sec (Cointreau), lime juice, lime wedge, salt, ice

3. Sidecar Cocktail 

The sidecar is another well-known cocktail that’s as popular today as it was all the way back in the 1920s.

If this isn’t a clear testament to how good this cocktail is, I don’t know what is.

Created in France around the end of World War I, it was named after the motorcycle attachment, which was widely used at the time.

A blend of cognac (a French brandy), triple sec, and lemon juice, the sidecar is crisp and rich.

The citrus flavors are very dominant in this drink, so if you like your cocktails sour, the sidecar is for you.

Ingredients: cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice, simple syrup, lemon twist

4. Long Island Iced Tea 

I’m almost too ashamed to admit this, but for years, nay, decades, I thought the Long Island iced tea had iced tea in it. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Also, based on its name, I was also once under the impression that it was a mild cocktail.

Again, I was very wrong. This drink is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Long Island iced tea is in fact a potent libation that combines several liqueurs and liquors: tequila, white rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec.

The alcohol flavors are diluted with soda, lemon juice, and simple syrup, giving you a tasty, yet still very strong drink.

Ingredients: tequila, white rum, vodka, gin, triple sec (e.g. Cointreau or Grand Marnier), lemon juice, soda, lemon

5. Kamikaze 

The kamikaze is a bright and refreshing cocktail made of equal parts vodka, triple sec, and lime juice.

The ratio of ingredients alone should already tell you that while this cocktail is also sweet, it’s more on the sour side.

If you’re a fan of sour treats, this will surely tantalize your tastebuds. 

It’s not just flavorful but also easy to make. Simply add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, and shake away.

Pour it into a chilled cocktail glass, and take a sip!

Pro-tip: you can transform the kamikaze into a cosmo shooter if you add a splash of cranberry juice.

Ingredients: vodka, triple sec (Cointreau or Grand Marnier), lime juice, lime wedge

6. Mai Tai 

A Mai Tai is a fun, tropical cocktail with a delicious combination of pineapple and orange.

It’s made with a blend of pineapple juice, orange juice, triple sec, white and dark rums, and simple syrup.

A splash of grenadine is added at the end. The syrup sinks to the bottom, giving the drink its iconic, pink layer.

This cocktail recipe requires several components, but each ingredient is essential to making this scrumptious summer sipper.

Tasty, refreshing, and pretty, to boot, this refreshment is perfect for brunch with family and friends.

Ingredients: pineapple juice, orange juice, dark rum, white rum, triple sec (e.g. Cointreau, Grand Marnier), simple syrup, Grenadine

7. Mimosa 

Mimosas are another fun, citrusy cocktail perfect for the summer.

Made with equal parts champagne or sparkling wine and Triple Sec, it couldn’t be easier to whip up. 

As basic as it is, though, mimosa is one of the most beloved cocktails on the planet.

It’s basically a sophisticated, sparkling version of orange juice, so what’s not to love?

If you’re on the hunt for drink recipes that’ll make family gatherings more exciting, you should definitely add this to the list.

Pro-tip: Experient with flavors by trying other types of citrus, such as blood orange and grapefruit.

Ingredients: a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine (Prosecco), orange juice, orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)

8. Mango Margarita 

Here’s something for the mango-loving people out there!

Made of ripe mangoes, tequila, orange liqueur, and agave, this mango margarita is a fruity cocktail with a tropical twist. 

High in sugar, the mango gives this cocktail a unique sweetness, which is complemented by tart lime.

The tequila adds that alcoholic punch, while the salt on the rim of the cocktail glass brings out the flavors of the ingredients.

Overall, this mango margarita is the perfect sipper for a warm summer day.

Ingredients: tequila, triple sec (orange liqueur), mango juice, lime juice, ice, salt

9. Red Wine Sangria 

Red wine, orange juice, and orange liqueur combine to make this refreshing sangria.

This simple cocktail recipe manages to transform a cheap bottle of red wine into a sophisticated sipper.

You’d think the orange slices and lemon wedge are only there for garnish, but they’ll actually infuse the cocktail with a lovely flavor and aroma.

Pro-tip: add some apple slices in there, too, if you’re serving sangria in the fall.

Ingredients: a bottle of red wine (e.g. champagne), orange liqueur, oranges, lemon, sugar, brandy

10. Velvet Hammer 

The Velvet Hammer combines cognac, cream, creme de cacao, Tia Maria, and triple sec.

This cocktail is sweet and creamy, with a wonderful blend of flavors. 

It starts with a strong orange taste and ends with chocolate and coffee. 

Think of it as a mash-up between a mocha latte and orange juice.

And, thanks to the cognac, this cocktail is smooth – there’s no hint of sharpness or acidity in it at all!

Ingredients: cognac, creme de cacao, Tia Maria, orange liqueur (Cointreau), heavy cream