Cointreau Noir
Cointreau Noir is a 750mL orange liqueur bottled at 40% ABV — the dark, cognac-blended expression of Cointreau, made by marrying the house's crystal-clear orange liqueur with Remy Martin Fine Champagne cognac. It revives "Majestic," a Cointreau-and-cognac blend Edouard Cointreau himself formulated in the early 1900s, rediscovered in the archives and rebuilt by Master Distiller Bernadette Langlais for its October 2012 launch — renamed Noir for its darker, denser character. Richer and warmer than the classic Cointreau, it is positioned by the house as a liqueur neat-worthy enough to stand in for a dark spirit. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 40%
- Size: 750mL (US bottling)
- Style: Orange liqueur blended with cognac
- Cognac: Remy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac
- Heritage: Revives Edouard Cointreau's early-1900s "Majestic"; launched 2012
- Origin: Angers, Loire Valley, France
The Cointreau the Founder Kept for Himself
Every great liqueur house has a private recipe, and Cointreau's was Majestic — Edouard Cointreau's own early-1900s blend of his orange liqueur with cognac, filed away and largely forgotten for a century. When Master Distiller Bernadette Langlais rebuilt it for the modern range, she kept the architecture and darkened the result: Cointreau's bitter-and-sweet orange intensity up front, cognac's vanilla, honey and gentle oak underneath, in a pour the producer aims at drinkers who usually reach for whisky or cognac. It landed in October 2012 — a sibling to the classic Cointreau range rather than a replacement for it — and it remains the connoisseur's route into the house. The cognac side of the blend is explored in our cognac collection.
Tasting Notes
The producer describes sophisticated aromas of spice with vanilla, honey, nuts, almond and gingerbread; citrus zest and subtle oak on the nose; intense orange with honey and toffee on the palate; and a warm, lightly spiced, mellow finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over a large cube — Noir was built to be sipped like a dark spirit. It also deepens a Sidecar, swapping in for the classic Cointreau with cognac already inside. Compare it with the original in our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cointreau Noir and regular Cointreau?
Noir blends the orange liqueur with Remy Martin Fine Champagne cognac, making it darker in colour, richer and warmer, with vanilla, honey and spice over the orange. Regular Cointreau is the crystal-clear, brighter original at the same 40% ABV.
Is Cointreau Noir a cognac?
No — it is an orange liqueur blended with cognac. The cognac is a component, not the product; Noir is classified and served as a liqueur.
Where does Cointreau Noir come from?
It revives "Majestic," a blend Edouard Cointreau formulated in the early 1900s, rebuilt by Master Distiller Bernadette Langlais and launched in 2012.
The founder's private blend, back from the archives — order Cointreau Noir online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.