Cointreau

First tasting of the evening. 4/5 bottle. Smell of rubbing alcohol. The nose burns and tickles. Candied orange peel flavor and dried fruit. Perceptible alcohol burning in the mouth. Vodka in the aftertaste. Not a bad balance of flavor. Sweet and sticky.

Crystal clear. Aroma dominated by orange peel, but some vodka does come through. It’s far from complex, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the orange still doesn’t come off cloying or overbearing. The taste is very sweet, but the high abv and some fair bitterness lend a little balance. Feels thick.

The Bottle: I get the feeling that not much has changed since 1849 when this stuff made its debut. Instantly recognizable. It doesn't draw your eye the way a Bruichladdich would, nor does it just disappear into the backdrop like a bottle of Absolut does. It's something that your brain silently checks the box on as you scan a bar. In the Glass: Clear, but with a good viscosity. On the Nose: Fresh apple.... The orange on this is very forward, with a nice blend of rind and pith in the mix to keep it from reading like juice. There's a sugary coating on it, like candied orange peels. Very pleasing. Taste: Thick, sweet arrival. The orange announces itself on the development and finish. There's a faint bitterness on the finish that counterpoints the sweetness nicely and keeps the whole thing from becoming cloying. There isn't a ton of depth to this, but the quality behind it is evident. Very purpose-built for the flavor that they are going for. This would be a bit too sweet for me as a sipper, but on the rocks? Sure. In a cocktail? Absolutely.