Giffard Triple Sec
Giffard Triple Sec is the French orange liqueur from a family house that has been perfecting liqueurs in Angers since 1885 — a 750mL bottle of sweet and bitter orange peels macerated in alcohol, then distilled for a clear, vibrant citrus spirit. The essential margarita ingredient and the backbone of the Cosmopolitan, Sidecar and Long Island: clean, balanced, unmistakably orange. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: Varies by expression (Giffard ships 35% and 40% expressions)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Orange liqueur (triple sec)
- Ingredients: sweet and bitter orange peels, neutral spirit from sugar beets, a touch of lemon essence
- Origin: Angers, Loire Valley, France — Giffard, family-owned since 1885
- Appearance: crystal clear (turns slightly opalescent on ice)
Five Generations of Orange
The Giffard story starts in 1885, and five generations later the house still makes liqueur the slow way: orange peels dried, macerated in eau-de-vie, then distilled to capture the pure essential oils. The result is what bartenders actually reach for — a triple sec with the balance between sweetness and bitter citrus dialed in, equally at home in a precision-built margarita or a well pour. Crystal-clear in the bottle, it goes faintly opalescent over ice as the citrus oils loosen. Browse Giffard, explore the liqueurs collection, or build your bar around the store's tequilas.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and candied citrus typical of sweet and bitter oranges on the nose. Sweet and delicate in the mouth — fresh citrus fruit with a slight note of bitterness from the orange and grapefruit peels. Over ice it turns less sweet and more lively, with eucalyptus and orange-blossom notes.
How to Enjoy
The classic margarita build: 2 oz blanco tequila, 3/4 oz Giffard Triple Sec, 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, a teaspoon of agave nectar — shaken hard and strained over fresh ice. Also at home in Cosmos, Sidecars and Mai Tais.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is triple sec?
An orange-flavored liqueur of French origin, made by macerating dried orange peels in alcohol and distilling — essential for margaritas, cosmopolitans and sidecars.
What is the difference between Giffard Triple Sec and Cointreau?
Both are French orange liqueurs; Giffard's is a bartender's workhorse expression from a five-generation liqueur house, priced for the well as well as the home bar.
Does Giffard Triple Sec go cloudy on ice?
Slightly — the citrus oils turn it faintly opalescent over ice, which is normal and a sign of real orange essence.
The margarita essential — grab Giffard Triple Sec online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.