Is drambuie a good replacement for cointreau?

Answer 1

No, and if I might comment, you're either under 21 (like me) or a nimrod because cointreau is an orange flavored liqueur and drambuie is anise (black licourice) flavored. Replacements for cointreau would be Grand Marnier, triple sec, and orange or blue curacao.

Below content by James Young:

The replacements for Cointreau listed above are OK examples of substitutes for Cointreau, however I will only use Cointreau in my drinks as it has the most distinct orange flavor of all the above listed substitutes. As a retired bartender, I don't agree with the rest of the response, especially the comment about Drambuie, as it is incorrect. Also I think that the post is a very immature answer. Lack of knowledge about alcohol does not make nor give the right to name call, especially if the answer provided is wrong. People are looking for answers and not insults.

All of the below information about the difference in the various brands and their components of the listed orange liqueurs can be verified at Wikipedia.

Cointreau is actually a brand name of triple sec. It's a blend of both bitter orange peels and sweet orange peels. Grand Marnier is actually a blend of Cognac Brandy and bitter orange peels. I personally prefer Cointreau over the taste of Grand Mariner as it taste better. It's sweeter and has a very distinct orange taste where as Grand Marnier has a strong alcohol taste, similiar to tequila with a hint of orange aftertaste, and doesn't have that strong distinct orange taste as Cointreau. Orange Curaçao would be my last option of them all. I have no issues with bottom shelf liqueurs, I just think they are cheaply made and do not taste as good as the actual products they represent. This is of course my personal opinion based on taste and preference for Orange Liqueur. Used what you like as this is just my personal preference.

This may be a little off topic, but I use Cointreu in my fruit salad ( about a cup or so, as it is large) and to make my margaritas, on the rocks only, as follows:

1 1/2 jiggers of Curevo 1800 Gold tequila.

1 1/2 jiggers of Cointreau liqueur.

1 1/2 jiggers of Villa Massa Limoncello liqueur.

4 ounces of Curevo Margarita mix. I use to make my own, but it's time consuming.

Salt rimmed or orange suger rimmed margarita glass. Depending on taste preference. Shaken in a large stainless steel cocktail shaker and poured over ice. You can use a small shaker and a glass if your confident. Garnish with a lime wedge for salt or an orange wedge if orange sugar is used. Lime if neither is used. Always use a wedge of whatever fruit, depending on request, to rim the glass. If dipping in salt use a lime wedge to rim the glass and for orange sugar, use an orange wedge to rim the glass for the orange sugar.

Limoncello is the secrect ingredient that has made many of my former customers and now friends love my margaritas. Limoncello is usually kept very cold and served straight up and is a very popular aperitif in Italy.

The point of this whole post is the comment made about Drambuie. I totally disagree with the original postings flavor of Drambuie that is listed above. Go to the Drambuie website and read about the ingredients. To me it taste like honey. I'm not saying that it doesn't have Anise in it, but licorice isn't the primary taste of this great liqueur. The website list the primary ingredients as being aged Scotch Whiskey, honey, heather and herbs and spices. I've drank many "Rusty Nails" ( equal parts Chivas Scotch and Drambuie, on the rocks) but this popular drink has a sweet and distinctly strong Scotch and honey taste. I hate black licorice and foods that contain Anise. If Drambuie tasted like licorice I would not have a bottle in our Wiskey collection.

The are many different licorice liqueurs out there if that is the flavor you are seeking. The most popular ones that I have used are Ouzo, a popular Greek liqueur and Sambuca, an Italian liqueur. I dislike both of these as these do have a strong and very distinct licorice flavor.