Alfred Cointreau is part of the sixth generation of the Cointreau family and was born and raised in Angers, France. This alone would make him the ideal candidate for Heritage Manager of Maison Cointreau. But the thirty-something doesn’t rest on the laurels of his last name.
His personality was molded by his family history, his meaningful personal encounters, fed by an insatiable curiosity and an unrelenting passion for cocktail culture. Originally not destined to be in the family business, Alfred remembers his grandfather, a faux retiree, continuing to frequent the distillery daily. He had an inimitable passion for his craft, which he passed on to his grandson. In addition to being a father of two spirited little girls, Louison and Suzanne, Alfred serves as Heritage Manager for the family business and is responsible for keeping up the culture of Maison Cointreau.
After trying his hand at various distillery roles, from unloading bags of orange zest to bottling to the art of distillation, Alfred decided he preferred being out in the world. A man of many talents (except sitting behind a desk), Alfred spends his time moving around, meeting people, and exploring bars. As long as he hears the clinking of ice cubes, he feels at home. Wherever he may be in the world, he always finds time to slide up to a bar, keeping his illustrious origins to himself, and give the bartender carte blanche. Champion of the orange label, Alfred Cointreau embodies the sensitivity and tranquil lifestyle typical of Angers, and is proud to share them with the rest of the world.
At my grandparents’ house, it was always my grandmother Élisabeth – the wife of my grandfather Pierre Cointreau – who made cocktails. He was very fond of telling us the family history, especially his memories of Édouard, his own grandfather who invented Cointreau. In a way, I’m passing on those traditions today.
In a world dictated by globalization, all the millions of Cointreau bottles are distributed every year around the world, whether in Japan, Canada, India, Russia, the United States, or the United Kingdom; all the bottles are developed in Angers, the cradle of the family.
Working with bartenders is really exciting. Especially to observe new cocktail trends, but also to chat with experts about the organoleptic richness of Cointreau liqueur. Lastly, I love hosting masterclasses for people just discovering the art of the cocktail. That pride when they make their first cocktail... it’s indescribable. I sometimes feel like I’m reliving my first attempts!
I rely on three things:1. A single base, namely Cointreau, to create infinite possibilities. 2. In the words of my grandmother: “A cocktail is enjoyed first with the eyes—take care of the presentation!”3. Prioritize seasonal fruits and fresh products; they have far more flavor
The Margarita. It goes without saying that the Margarita is especially valuable to me, since I learned how to make it from my maternal grandmother’s side – a woman that no superlative can describe!
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