Homemade triple sec is an orange liqueur made by hanging an organic orange above 400 ml of vodka in a sealed jar for at least 21 days so its aroma infuses the spirit, then mixing the vodka with an equal amount of sugar syrup and resting the liqueur for another 7 days. It takes 30 minutes of preparation plus about 30 days of resting and makes 8 servings.
Triple sec is a French-style orange liqueur, citrusy and sweet, used in many classic cocktails.
How to Make Triple Sec at Home?
Making triple sec at home takes patience but is simple: the orange peel perfumes the vodka through the vapor in the jar, and the infused spirit is then sweetened with syrup and aged briefly.
Nutritional Information
Each serving of triple sec contains approximately 215 kcal, 38 g of carbohydrates, 0 g of fat, 0 g of protein, 38 g of sugars, and 0 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
Homemade Triple Sec Recipe
Preparation: 30 minutes
Resting: 30 days
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 organic orange
- 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) of vodka
- 500 g (2 1/2 cups) of sugar
- 500 ml (2 cups) of water
Instructions
- Make a hole in the lid of a large wide-mouth glass jar and tie an organic orange with string so it hangs inside. Mark the outside of the jar 3 cm (1 1/4 in) below the bottom of the orange.
- Fill the jar with vodka up to the mark, close tightly so the orange does not touch the liquid, and leave in a cool, dark place for at least 21 days so the orange peel infuses the vodka.
- Carefully remove the orange and strain the infused vodka. In a pot, heat the water and sugar, stirring until dissolved into a syrup. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a glass pitcher, mix the infused vodka with an equal amount of syrup, stir, and pour into a clean, dry bottle. Seal and rest for 7 more days so the flavors blend. Store in a cool, dark place.
Additional Tips
Try other citrus
Mandarin, grapefruit, or organic lime peel give different aromas; always use fruit without wax or pesticides.
Age it longer
Resting the bottled liqueur for 2 to 3 extra weeks softens the alcohol and rounds the flavors.
Keep leftover syrup
Extra syrup keeps in the refrigerator for cocktails and desserts.
| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | Neutral grape spirit or pisco | 1:1 | Different aroma |
| White sugar | Cane sugar | 1:1 | Deeper color |
| Orange | Mandarin | 1:1 | Sweeter aroma |
| Vapor infusion | Peel soaked in the vodka | Peel of 2 oranges | Faster, more bitter |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why hang the orange instead of soaking it?
The vapor carries the orange’s essential oils into the vodka for a clean aroma without bitterness from the white pith.
2. How long does it keep?
Well sealed in a cool, dark place, it keeps for months.
3. What cocktails use triple sec?
Margaritas, cosmopolitans, sidecars, and many sours.
4. Can I make it less sweet?
Yes, use less syrup when mixing, to taste.
What Is Triple Sec?
Triple sec is a clear orange liqueur of French origin, flavored with sweet and bitter orange peels and used widely in cocktails.
Using Triple Sec
It adds citrus sweetness to cocktails such as the margarita and cosmopolitan and to desserts like crêpes and fruit salads.
Did You Know?
Triple sec means triple dry in French, a name whose exact origin is debated, as the liqueur itself is sweet.
