10 Simple Triple Sec Substitutes For Your Margarita

Any margarita worth its salt always includes a shot of triple sec, especially if you're striving for perfection. It also contains a delightful combination of tequila, fresh citrus, and maybe even a little salt. That combination of ingredients creates a drink that's so bright and refreshing, it can't be matched. That brightness comes from the fresh citrus juices used in the classic recipe, but also from the triple sec. It's that burst of orange that raises this cocktail to another level — a level that a bottle of cloying sweet and sour mix simply can't match. But adding triple sec isn't the only way to shake up this recipe. 

Believe it or not, there are several ways you could craft the perfect margarita. You could make it spicy, serve it on the rocks with or without salt, or even blend it into a frosty alcoholic slush, just to name a few. But no matter how you like your margarita, the one thing you should never ever leave out is that burst of citrus. While triple sec is the most common choice, it's not the only choice. I've mixed up and served a lot of margaritas over the years, and in all that time I've discovered several other liqueurs that will elevate your cocktail. I've even realized you could forgo the alcohol altogether and simply add a bit more juice. 

Unsure which way is right for you? Don't worry, I've got some triple sec substitute suggestions that won't just change your margarita — it might create a version you like even better.

When it comes to orange liqueurs, few are as widely recognized as Grand Marnier. Wrapped with a red ribbon and a stunning wax seal, this orange liqueur is a common addition to cocktails thanks to its perfect blend of bitter and sweet citrus notes. Those distinct flavors come from the fact that unlike other liqueurs, which are usually made by combining brandies with fruits or herbs and sugars, this one is made with cognac. 

Combining cognac with dried bigarade orange peels creates an orange flavor that's sweet with a bitter finish. It's that subtle bitterness that makes this spirit a great choice for a margarita. There will still be hints of orange, but it won't be as sweet as some other options. With this spirit, which was created by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle in France in 1880, you'll instead get a little warmth and hints of spice thanks to the cognac and bigarade oranges. 

You could just add a splash of Grand Marnier to the classic margarita; or, consider going one step further to create something truly special: Float an ounce or two of the liqueur on top. Adding that float upgrades the standard margarita to Cadillac status and is a drink in which you will definitely want to indulge.

Cointreau orange liqueur has been aligned with the margarita for decades. In fact, if you go to the Cointreau website, you're greeted with the tag line, "Make your margarita margaright with Cointreau." So, why is making a margarita with Cointreau considered the "right" way? Cointreau credits Margaret Sames as the creator of the margarita, who reportedly once claimed, "A margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt." If the supposed creator of this classic cocktail believes that, then it's probably worth checking out.

Unlike triple sec, which can be made in a variety of different ways, or Grand Marnier with its cognac base, Cointreau has an orange intensity that can't be beat, thanks to its combination of dried and fresh, sweet and bitter orange peels — a combination conceived by Édouard Cointreau in 1885 after years of spirit trial and error. But unlike Grand Marnier, which has a distinct bitterness to it, Cointreau has no bitterness whatsoever. Instead, it's a crystal-clear spirit with an intense orange flavor that's delightfully sweet. That orange essence bursts through the other citrus notes and turns the margarita into a wonderful cocktail — a cocktail that is definitely "margaright." 

If you prefer your margarita on the drier side, Ferrand's dry Curaçao might be the way to go. Unlike the two previous orange liqueurs, this one is an infant in comparison, only appearing on the scene in recent years. It was actually created by Ferrand chairman and majority owner Alexandre Gabriel, as well as cocktail historian David Wondrich. As a tribute to 19th-century dry Curaçaos, the two opted for the laraha orange as their citrus, because the laraha actually comes from Curaçao. While the flesh of these oranges is practically inedible due to its bitterness, the peels have a sweet fragrance and wonderful orange oil that, when expressed, translates to a delectable flavor that's full of rich, orange notes with subtle hints of bitterness.

Similar to Grand Marnier, which also uses cognac, dry Curaçao is a richer option because the cognac base adds notes of vanilla and oak to the cocktail. This liqueur also has significantly less sugar than triple sec and Cointreau, which means it creates a brighter cocktail that isn't nearly as sweet. So, if you want a margarita that focuses on the citrus and the tequila rather than the sugars, this is the way to go.

Orange extract may seem like an odd ingredient for a margarita, but if you want a strong pop of orange flavor to shine through your libation, this is the perfect choice. While extracts are typically made with different alcohols, they don't need to be. You could easily replace the alcohol with food-grade glycerin and have a wonderful extract that's solely about the orange flavor. Plus, because the extract is typically made from orange oil, it's a great option for a lower-calorie cocktail, like the very popular skinny margarita. 

The drink gets its name because it's solely made with tequila and citrus juices. Orange extract replaces the triple sec, allowing you to achieve a drier margarita without nearly as much alcohol; this means you could easily enjoy two or three margaritas with your tacos, rather than just one. And since there won't be any added sugars like you'd find in triple sec or Cointreau, you likely won't end up with a nasty hangover the next morning. 

Orange juice is a great non-alcoholic choice if you want to guarantee that orange flavor will be front and center in your margarita. Once you decide to make this switch from the usual triple sec, you need to choose an orange. See, there are many different varieties to choose from, and depending on which orange you use, the flavor of your margarita will change. 

A Cara Cara or Valencia could turn your margarita into a sweet elixir that pairs perfectly with a carne asada plate, while the tart juice from a Seville or blood orange might be better paired with a tres leches cake or flan. Plus, if you use the blood orange or Cara Cara, your margarita will turn a beautiful shade of pale pink that will make the drink even more inviting. But no matter which orange you choose, you're guaranteed a burst of citrus that won't add to your cocktail's calorie or ABV count; additionally, it will bring a brightness that simply can't be beat.

If you want to add a pop of color and a little sweetness to your margarita, consider adding a splash or two of grenadine to your cocktail. The bright red color will make the drink even more enticing, while the sweetness means you can forgo the simple syrup or agave usually included in the classic recipe. Made from pomegranate juice and sugar, this mixer is a staple on most bar shelves. Used in several different drinks from the Shirley Temple to the tequila sunrise, grenadine's unique sweet-tart flavor from the pomegranate will elevate your margarita from a tangy citrus sipper to something sweet with just a hint of acidity. 

While you could easily use a bottle of Rose's grenadine, making your own means you won't be stuck with the cloying store-bought syrup. Sure, it's easier to buy the bottle and keep it in the fridge, but following a simple grenadine recipe guarantees a mixer with a pomegranate flavor that will come through — thereby turning your margarita into something truly unique.

No, it's not some cool flavor that La Croix came up with. Believe it or not, pamplemousse is the French word for grapefruit, and it's used frequently in the spirit world, especially when it comes to grapefruit liqueurs. Now, I know that the combination of grapefruit and tequila usually means a paloma is being mixed up. But if you get rid of the Squirt soda, add in a splash of the aforementioned pamplemousse liqueur, and substitute the grapefruit juice with lemon or lime juice, you end up with a grapefruit margarita instead. 

This liqueur not only adds a silkiness that makes the classic margarita even richer, but it also adds a pretty pink hue that turns the cocktail into the perfect party drink. What I especially love about replacing triple sec with pamplemousse liqueur is that it's still citrus forward, but the distinct grapefruit flavor significantly decreases the sweetness usually associated with the orange-forward triple sec, while adding subtle bitter notes on the finish. Similar to Cointreau and Grand Marnier, those bitter notes come from the pink grapefruit zest used in its creation. 

That bitter bite helps balance out both the spirit and the margarita, turning this into a drink worth sipping, especially if grapefruit is your favorite citrus. And if you're still missing the effervescence of the classic paloma, just add a splash of soda.

Citrus may be the classic choice for the margarita, but it's not your only option. With so many different varieties of fruit, it's fun to switch things up now and then and make a margarita that swaps out the lemon, lime, or orange for something different. We've all seen watermelon, mango, and strawberry margaritas, so why couldn't you make a cherry one? I strongly believe that you can, but you'll need to swap out the triple sec for a maraschino liqueur to do so.

With several different maraschino liqueurs on the market, it might be hard to choose. Each bottle uses marasca cherries from Croatia. But then some add just the pits to the distillate, while other brands — like Luxardo — use the whole tree. Those subtle changes to the liqueur affect the flavor, creating one spirit that's more cherry forward, while another might be slightly bitter or have a distinct earthiness. In the end, it doesn't matter which maraschino liqueur you choose; the cherry will meld wonderfully with the lemon and lime while those earthy notes will highlight the similar flavors in your tequila — especially if you use a reposado or an añejo as your base rather than the standard blanco. 

There's nothing better than sipping margaritas on the coast of Mexico with some chips and freshly made guacamole because, let's be honest, this cocktail was made for tropical locales. But if you can't get to Mexico, you can still enjoy a margarita with a tropical twist by subbing out the triple sec for Chinola's passion fruit liqueur. 

Created in the Dominican Republic back in 2014, this sweet elixir brings the tiki to your margarita by infusing the drink with flavors of citrus, melon, and pineapple. The liqueur has a luscious sweetness that coats the tongue and a velvety mouthfeel that permeates the whole drink. But don't worry, the drink doesn't turn into a saccharine concoction, steering you toward a hellish hangover. Chinola's nectarous flavor is tempered by an acidity that melds wonderfully with the lemon and lime juices frequently used to create the classic margarita. Adding a salted or Tajin rim will enhance those tropical flavors even more and make you believe you're actually lounging on that beautiful beach south of the border.

We often think of margaritas as being fruit-forward cocktails that are bright and have just the right amount of citrus to wake up the senses. But every so often, it's nice to take that classic cocktail and tone it down. Turn it into something more akin to a stroll in the fields surrounded by heather by adding a little St-Germain to the mix. It's no surprise this liqueur has such an abundant floral aroma and flavor since it's created from fresh elderflowers. 

Produced in France, St-Germain joined the spirit world in 2007 after founder and distiller Robert J. Cooper was inspired by the St-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Boasting that each bottle contains the essence of 1,000 handpicked elderflower blossoms, it's those flowers that give this liqueur its pale-yellow color and distinct honeysuckle and pear notes — a subtle fruity flavor that melds wonderfully with the bright citrus juices that are part of the classic margarita recipe. But it's those floral notes that give a St-Germain margarita a je ne sais quoi quality that makes it even more alluring and the perfect alternative to the classic triple sec.