The saga of Cointreau

A mix of tradition and modernity
Four generations of the Cointreau family have lead Cointreau since the brand was founded, 150 years ago.

1849

Adolphe and Edouard-Jean Cointreau, famous master confectioners, establish a distillery in Angers to create spirits using local fruits.

 

1875

Edouard Cointreau, son of Edouard-Jean, distilled a spirit from sweet and bitter orange peel, with a highly crystalline robe, which was a major novelty for the time. He also invented the square-sided amber-colored container, the modern version of which still remains the signature of Cointreau liqueur to this day.

 

1898

Creation of the Pierrot character - which became the symbolic image of the brand - by famous poster artist Nicolas Tamago (after a photograph by Nadar).

 

1899

Just three years after the invention of motion pictures Edouard Cointreau launches the first advertising film, featuring the famous Pierrot.

 
 

Early 1900's

800,000 bottles of Cointreau are sold per year. Cointreau opens its first branches around Europe.

 

1923

The brand’s success is growing, reaching as far as the United States, Canada and Latin America. Edouard’s sons, Louis and André Cointreau, succeed him at the head of the family business and invent the concept of “the worldwide brand”. This slogan was used on most of the brand’s poster campaigns across the globe.

 

1960s

James Bond embodies the image of Cointreau in its adverts. 

 
 

1989

Cointreau merges with Rémy Martin, the cognac distiller founded in 1724. The new company is listed on the Paris stock exchange and becomes a major player in the high-quality wines and spirits market.

 

1992

“Voulez-vous Cointreau avec moi?” was the leading question in Cointreau campaigns.

 

2001

Cointreau inaugurates the "Be Cointreauversial" campaign. Only used outside France, it is aimed at women who express themselves,
and choose whatever well-matched combinations they like when drinking Cointreau, as a cocktail or on the rocks, without worrying what other people think.

 
 

2005

Cointreau launches the Cointreaupolitan, the hip accessory for Parisian after-works drinks. At premiers, private viewings, inaugurations,
it's found in all the right places.

 

2007

Dita Von Teese became the Brand Ambassador.

The company is still represented by Edouard's grandson, Pierre Cointreau, Honorary Chairman. The group is chaired by a woman, Dominique Hériard Dubreuil.

 

2010

Dita von Teese opens the first Cointreau Privé, an ephemeral cocktails bar in the heart of Montmartre at Paris.