Cartron Triple Sec
Cartron Triple Sec is the benchmark French orange liqueur from Joseph Cartron — the family house in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, making liqueurs since 1882. Sweet Para oranges (Brazil and Florida) and bitter Bigarade oranges (Ivory Coast and Sicily) are peeled by hand, their peels separated from the pith and distilled with neutral sugar-beet alcohol in small alembic copper pot stills, then slowly sweetened to 100 grams of sugar per liter. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in 700mL, it is a triple sec in the classic French style: bright, dry, and built for cocktails. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 700mL
- Origin: Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France; US importer Skurnik Wines & Spirits
- Production: sweet + bitter orange peels distilled in small alembic copper pot stills; sugar-beet alcohol and sugar; unaged
- Style: classic dry French triple sec — orange oil depth without syrupiness
From Burgundy: The Joseph Cartron Story
Joseph Cartron has spent more than 140 years refining fruit distillation in the heart of Burgundy, and the Triple Sec is the house's flagship liqueur. The method is deliberately old-school: peels are stripped of their bitter pith before distillation, and crystallized sugar is incorporated slowly so the orange essence stays clean and precise. The result is the bartender's triple sec of choice across Europe — equally at home in a Margarita, a Cosmopolitan, or a classic Sidecar. Explore more liqueurs or the Cartron range at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Per the importer and Difford's Guide: intense fresh orange peel on the nose, with a lively citrus palate that leads into warm, lightly bitter orange oil and a clean, drying finish. At 80 proof it lifts a cocktail without muddying it.
How to Enjoy
Mix — this is cocktail liqueur at its best. Build a Margarita with blanco tequila and fresh lime, stir a Cosmopolitan, or float a splash over a coupe of Cognac and lemon for a Sidecar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between triple sec and Curaçao?
Triple sec is traditionally a drier, more straightforward orange liqueur; Cartron's is distilled from sweet and bitter orange peels in copper stills, while Curaçao is typically sweeter and heavier on bitter-orange peel.
What proof is Cartron Triple Sec?
80 proof (40% ABV) in the 700mL bottle — a full-strength liqueur, not a low-proof cordial.
Where is Cartron Triple Sec made?
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France, by the family-owned Joseph Cartron house, operating since 1882.
The bartender's triple sec, from Burgundy to your bar cart — order Cartron Triple Sec online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.