Cointreau
Angers, France
Beet-sugar neutral spirit redistilled with sweet and bitter orange peels. 23.4g of sugar per 100ml, about 10g per 1.5oz pour. High ABV for a liqueur keeps the sugar-to-alcohol ratio moderate.
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- High
- Additives
- Low
- Calories
- 140
- Sugar
- 10.4g
14g ethanol at 40% ABV. 98 from alcohol, 42 from carbohydrate.
In its favor
- ✓Vegan, gluten-free
- ✓No artificial coloring or flavoring
- ✓High ABV reduces effective sugar dilution
What to watch
- !Still a sugar-forward liqueur
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar High ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Cointreau is one of the cleanest liqueurs on shelves: real fruit distillate, no artificial flavoring, transparent ingredients. Sugar is the only meaningful concern.
Cointreau questions
How many calories are in a shot of Cointreau? ▾
About 140 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. 98 come from the alcohol and 42 from carbohydrate.
Does Cointreau have sugar? ▾
Yes, about 10.4g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Cointreau gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Cointreau is gluten-free, with no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What proof is Cointreau? ▾
Cointreau is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Cointreau give you a bad hangover? ▾
Cointreau scores 5/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for liqueur overall. The main drivers are its sugar.
Is Cointreau vegan? ▾
Yes. Cointreau is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.