What ingredients are in a Zizi Coin-coin?

5 cl Cointreau, 2 cl Lemon Juice, cubes Ice, or lime Lemon

What glass do you use for a Zizi Coin-coin?

A Zizi Coin-coin is traditionally served in a Margarita/Coupette glass.

How strong is a Zizi Coin-coin?

A Zizi Coin-coin has an estimated ABV of 12.00%.

How many calories are in a Zizi Coin-coin?

A Zizi Coin-coin contains approximately 153 calories per serving.

What makes Zizi Coin-Coin unusual among cocktails?

Most cocktails that contain Cointreau use it as a supporting modifier alongside a primary spirit such as tequila or vodka. Zizi Coin-Coin inverts this convention by centering Cointreau as the main ingredient, showcasing its depth as an orange liqueur when given a starring role. The result is intensely orange-forward and citrus-driven, demonstrating that a liqueur can anchor a cocktail without a base spirit.

What is the ABV of a Zizi Coin-Coin?

Cointreau is bottled at 40% ABV — the same strength as many base spirits — so a Zizi Coin-Coin made with a standard 2 oz pour diluted with citrus juice and ice produces a finished drink in the range of 18–24% ABV. Despite its liqueur base, the drink is not weak. The high ABV of Cointreau relative to many other liqueurs makes this drink stronger than it might appear from its single-liqueur format.

Cointreau, the French triple sec distilled from sweet and bitter orange peels, takes the lead role in Zizi Coin-coin rather than its usual supporting one. About 5 cl of the liqueur is poured over ice and brightened with 2 cl of fresh lemon or lime juice, stirred gently, and finished with citrus slices in a margarita glass. Promoting a modifier to primary spirit gives the drink a clean, intensely orange character framed by tart citrus, with an alcohol content near 12 percent. The construction is straightforward, though judging the balance between liqueur and acid calls for some care.

Zizi Coin-coin

Glass Margarita/Coupette glass

Difficulty Medium

Calories ~153 kcal

ABV 12.00%

Ingredients

Cointreau 5 cl
Lemon Juice 2 cl
Ice cubes
Lemon or lime

Instructions

Pour 5cl of Cointreau on ice, add 2cl of fresh lemon (or lime) juice, stir gently, and finally add slices of lemon/lime in glass.

Citrus Refreshing

Zizi Coin-Coin is a simple, citrus-forward cocktail built on Cointreau and fresh lemon (or lime) juice, served over ice in a margarita glass and garnished with lemon or lime slices. Cointreau, the premier French triple sec made with sweet and bitter orange peels, is showcased here as a primary spirit rather than a secondary modifier, demonstrating the liqueur's depth when given a starring role. The result is a clean, intensely orange and citrus drink.

History & Origins

Zizi Coin-Coin is a French cocktail closely associated with Cointreau, the orange liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, Pays de la Loire, since 1875. The name 'Coin-Coin' is a French onomatopoeia for a duck's quack, and it also plays on 'Cointreau' — Zizi is a colloquial French nickname. The drink was developed as a signature serve to showcase Cointreau's quality as a standalone cocktail ingredient. Its precise origin is disputed within the brand's history.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense fresh orange peel from the Cointreau with bright lemon or lime citrus tartness. Palate: Sweet and citrus-forward, with Cointreau's complex orange character — both sweet and bitter peel notes — complemented by fresh lemon's tartness; the drink is clean and straightforward, allowing Cointreau's quality to speak for itself. Finish: Dry and citrusy with lingering orange peel and a clean lime or lemon note.

orange citrus tart sweet clean

Pro Tip

Use a high-quality fresh lemon or lime and stir gently rather than shaking to preserve Cointreau's delicate aromatics and prevent cloudiness.

Data verified January 2017

Nutrition Facts →

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