Food & Cooking

We Tried Martha's Instagram-Famous Cointreau Kiss Cocktail—and It's Delicious for Any Occasion

Made with Cointreau and muddled orange, Martha says the refreshing citrus beverage is "good as a cocktail, as a nightcap, or anytime!"

By

Madeline Buiano

Updated on May 22, 2023

Martha Stewart standing by pool holding cocktail tray — Photo:
Noe Dewitt

Looking for something delicious to sip on? As per usual, Martha has the answer. Our founder's Instagram-famous cocktail, which she has fittingly coined "Cointreau Kiss," is the drink to make when you're not sure what you're in the mood for. The refreshing beverage is "good as a cocktail, as a nightcap or anytime!" Martha wrote in an Instagram post. Of course, we had to try it for ourselves, and Martha isn't wrong—this is the drink of summer (and beyond).

"Easy to make and easy to drink, the 'Cointreau Kiss' is a four-ingredient cocktail that doesn't call for shaking or any other mixology skills," says Victoria Spencer, senior digital food editor for MarthaStewart.com about Martha's beverage. "At first, I was surprised Martha built a drink around Cointreau—the classic French orange liqueur—but then I remembered she really likes it and has used it rather than triple sec in her margaritas."

To make the cocktail, start by muddling two orange slices in a glass (any type of orange will do, but Victoria used Cara Cara); then, add ice and pour in 2 parts Cointreau and 1 part Casa Dragones blanco tequila. The finishing touch? A refreshing topping of sparkling mineral water.

If you want to add a burst of sweetness to the flavor profile, Martha says to "gild the lily" and line the rim of the glass with raw sugar.

According to Victoria, the "Cointreau Kiss" is ideal for warm weather because the citrus and sparkling water keeps it light, unlike some more intense wintry cocktails, such as a Manhattan. "It's light and slightly orangey and sweet, and then there is the tequila in the background," she says.

It's not surprising that Martha has made a margarita-adjacent beverage. Our founder has shared tequila-based recipes with fans in the past, including her favorite recipe for pomegranate margaritas, which she's dubbed the Martha-Rita. Another great beverage for summer, the drink is made by blending 2 cups fresh lime juice, 2 cups tequila blanco, 1/2 cup triple sec, and a 1/2 cup pomegranate concentrate with ice.