8 Types of Triple Sec for Margaritas

While there may be many ways to customize a margarita, there are a few key ingredients that must be present. Margaritas are made using tequila, orange liqueur, and some form of citrus juice. So What’s the Best Triple Sec for Margaritas? In this post, you’ll learn how to choose this orange liqueur.

What is Triple Sec?

It can be confusing, but triple Sec is used to describe a family of orange liqueurs and a specific liquor. 

It can refer to the name for a category of dry orange liqueurs: it translates to “triple dry” in French. This liqueur is made from bitter and sweet dried orange peels that help to give it a zingy citrus taste. While it can be consumed straight, on the rocks, most people prefer to mix it in a cocktail. 

It is also the name for a specific product. You can find bottles labeled triple sec in most liquor stores. 

What is Better in a Margarita: Triple Sec or Cointreau?

Triple sec is lower in quality and more affordable than Cointreau, which is a higher end Triple Sec.  

• Triple Sec is made from the skins of oranges, and usually holds up an alcohol percentage of 15%- 30%. This is best for when you want more of a slight alcoholic taste and more of a citrus-based taste in your Margarita. 
• Cointreau is made from the sweet and bitter skins of oranges but holds up its alcoholic percentages at 40%. 

So the choice majorly depends on how alcoholic you want your drink to taste and the budget you have.

Best Triple Sec for Margaritas 

If you a big fan of margaritas, here are the best triple sec options to buy: 

1. Cointreau (Our Top Pick)

Smooth with notes of warm spices and a citrus flavor, Cointreau is our top choice if your budget allows it. 

2. Drillaud

This Triple is a French-made triple sec. Its flavor is subtle enough to be delicious but not so strong that it will knock your Margarita tastes out of balance. It’s also less expensive than Cointreau. 

3. Combier Triple Sec 

This has a fragrant orange blossom and bitter orange zest, creating a blissfully zesty flavor. Accompanied by preserved oranges and cooked lemons.   

4. Giffard 

The taste of Giffard is clean and balanced, it has a zesty orange taste with a hint of grapefruit. It also has a unique icing sugar aftertaste, for those with a sweet tooth.   

5. Bols

This triple sec is on the sweet side of the flavor spectrum, it provides a mouth-watering intense flavor of curacao orange.   It also lacks flavor distractions unlike other brands, such as Cointreau may do. It tastes clean and lacks distractions due to a taste untainted by artificial flavors.

6. Vita Divine

This is one of the sweetest triple secs and maybe too sweet for some.

7. Grand Marnier

This is a top-shelf orange liqueur that makes a sophisticated margarita. Grand Marnier tastes like orange-flavored brandy. Compared to Cointreau, the flavor is darker with notes of vanilla and oak.

8. Mr. Stacks Triple Sec

This is an American favorite, although it’s not widely available. This Triple Sec is made and distributed in the USA, a somewhat American special. Usually sold in 750ml bottles, it carries a sweet citrus flavor.   

Is Triple Sec Necessary for Margaritas?

Can’t you just add a splash of orange juice or something? Not if you want a well-balanced drink. Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita.