Baileys Irish Cream is an
Irish whiskeyIrish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
and
creamCream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators"...
based
liqueurA liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by
DiageoDiageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
. It has a declared
alcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
content of 17%
alcohol by volumeAlcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
. It can be compared to other cream liqueurs such as
AmarulaAmarula is a cream liqueur manufactured in South Africa. It is made with sugar, cream and the fruit of the African Marula tree which is also locally called the Elephant tree or the Marriage Tree. It has an alcohol content of 17% by volume...
,
CarolansCarolans Irish Cream is a liqueur based on mead-wine and cream made in Clonmel, South Tipperary in Ireland. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% or 14.5% alcohol by volume . The main components are cream , mead-wine, and honey...
and
Sangster'sSangster's Original Jamaica Rum Cream Liqueur is a rum and cream based liqueur produced in Jamaica. It was invented by Dr. Ian Sangster, who arrived in Jamaica in 1967 with a contract to lecture at the University of the West Indies.- Overview :...
.
Baileys Irish Cream is an
Irish whiskeyIrish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
and
creamCream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators"...
based
liqueurA liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by
DiageoDiageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
. It has a declared
alcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
content of 17%
alcohol by volumeAlcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
. It can be compared to other cream liqueurs such as
AmarulaAmarula is a cream liqueur manufactured in South Africa. It is made with sugar, cream and the fruit of the African Marula tree which is also locally called the Elephant tree or the Marriage Tree. It has an alcohol content of 17% by volume...
,
CarolansCarolans Irish Cream is a liqueur based on mead-wine and cream made in Clonmel, South Tipperary in Ireland. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% or 14.5% alcohol by volume . The main components are cream , mead-wine, and honey...
and
Sangster'sSangster's Original Jamaica Rum Cream Liqueur is a rum and cream based liqueur produced in Jamaica. It was invented by Dr. Ian Sangster, who arrived in Jamaica in 1967 with a contract to lecture at the University of the West Indies.- Overview :...
.
History and origin
Baileys Irish Cream was created by Gilbeys of Ireland as it searched for something to introduce to the international market. The process of finding a product began in 1971 and it was introduced in 1974 as the first
Irish creamIrish cream is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, cream, and other ingredients such as coffee, which can be served on its own or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot or a whole shot. Irish cream is very popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. Irish cream typically has between...
on the market. The Baileys name, and the
R.A. Bailey signature, were fictional, inspired by the
Bailey's HotelMillennium Bailey's Hotel, formerly Bailey's Hotel, is a historic hotel in the Kensington district of London. The postal address is 140 Gloucester Road, but the main entrance is on Courtfield Road, opposite Gloucester Road tube station...
in London. Baileys is currently produced in
NewtownabbeyNewtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course...
.
Manufacture
Baileys was the first 44% liqueur to use cream, honey, coffee, cocoa and alcohol together in a manner sufficiently stable to allow commercial distribution. Most of the alcohol in Baileys is produced from a bacterial fermentation of
wheyWhey or Milk Serum is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Sweet whey is manufactured during the making of rennet types of hard cheese like cheddar or Swiss cheese...
. The alcohol - referred to as "spirits" on the company website - and cream, together with some whiskey, are
homogenizedHomogenization or homogenisation is any of several processes used to make a chemical mixture the same throughout.-Definition:Homogenization is intensive blending of mutually related substances or groups of mutually related substances to form a constant of different insoluble phases to obtain a...
to form an
emulsionAn emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible . Emulsions are part of a more general class of two-phase systems of matter called colloids. Although the terms colloid and emulsion are sometimes used interchangeably, emulsion is used when both the dispersed and the...
with the aid of an emulsifier containing refined vegetable-oil. This process prevents separation of the alcohol and cream during storage. The quantity of other ingredients is not known but they include natural herbs and
sugarSugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
.
According to the manufacturer no preservatives are required as the alcohol content preserves the cream. The cream used in the drink comes from
GlanbiaGlanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
, an Irish dairy company. Glanbia's Virginia facility in
County CavanCounty Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
produces a range of fat-filled milk powders and fresh cream. It has been the principal cream-supplier to Baileys Irish Cream Liqueurs for more than thirty years.
Storage and shelf life
The manufacturer claims Baileys Irish Cream has a shelf life of 30 months and guarantees its taste for 2 years from the day it was made, opened or unopened, stored in a refrigerator or not, when stored away from direct sunlight at a temperature range of 0-25 °C (32-77 °F).
Nutritional values
Diageo provides nutritional information for Baileys.
Drinking
Baileys Irish Cream can be enjoyed by itself, over ice, or as part of a
cocktailA cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
. It is also commonly used as an addition to coffee in lieu of cream or sugar and also, with the Baileys unboiled, served with
HorlicksHorlicks is the name of a company and of a malted milk hot drink. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Jamaica, and under licence in the Philippines and Malaysia....
.
As is the case with milk, cream will curdle whenever it comes into contact with a weak acid. Milk and cream contain
caseinCasein is the name for a family of related phosphoprotein proteins . These proteins are commonly found in mammalian milk, making up 80% of the proteins in cow milk and between 60% and 65% of the proteins in human milk....
which coagulates when mixed with weak acids such as lemon, tonic water, or traces of wine. While this outcome is undesirable in most situations, some cocktails specifically encourage coagulation.
A Cement Mixer is an alcoholic drink usually made with lemon or lime juice and Baileys Irish Cream though acidic alcohols can replace the juice. A shot of juice is taken first and held in the cheek, followed by a shot of Baileys, with the two mixed in the mouth. The acidity of the juice curdles the Irish cream and the mixture is either swallowed or spat out because of the nature of the taste and texture felt inside the mouth.
Baileys Coffee is made using a measure of Baileys in a cup of coffee.
Variant flavours
In 2003, Bailey & Co. launched
Baileys Glide, aimed at the
alcopopAlcopop is a colloquial term describing certain flavored alcoholic beverages, including:#malt beverages to which various fruit juices or other flavorings have been added...
market. It was discontinued in 2006.
In 2005, Baileys launched
mint chocolateMint chocolate, also known as chocolate mint, is a popular variety of flavored chocolate. It is created when mint flavoring, such as peppermint, spearmint, or crème de menthe, is added to plain chocolate. Chocolate mint also refers to an herb, specifically a hybrid mint plant, that tastes and...
and crème caramel variants of its Irish Cream at 17% ABV. They were originally released in UK airports and were subsequently released in the mass market of the UK, US, Australia and Canada in 2006. In 2008, Baileys, after the success of previous flavour variants, released a coffee variant of its Irish Cream with an ABV of 17%. The company is currently trialling a new premium variety, Baileys Gold, at several European airports. The latest addition to the Baileys flavour family is hazelnut, which was launched in late 2010 in the UK.
Häagen-DazsHäagen-Dazs is a brand of ice cream, established by Jewish-Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Starting with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976...
has a Baileys-flavoured
ice creamIce cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
.
, Baileys has its own line of non-alcoholic
coffee creamersNon-dairy creamers are liquid or granular substances intended to substitute for milk or cream as an additive to coffee or other beverages. They do not contain lactose and therefore are commonly described as not being dairy products...
.
In 2011 Bailey's launched the
biscottiBiscotti more correctly known as biscotti di Prato , also known as cantuccini , are twice-baked biscuits originating in the Italian city of Prato...
variant of its Irish Cream.
Awards
International
spirit ratingsWith a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
competitions, including at the San Francisco World Spiritis Competition, the Beverage Testing Institute, and others, have assessed Bailey's offerings. In general, Bailey's spirits have performed well, with the classic Irish Cream generally pulling in the highest awards. Proof66's List of the Top 20 Profesionally Rated World Liqueurs includes the Irish Cream.
Cocktails containing Baileys
- B52
The B-52 is a layered shot composed of a coffee liqueur , an Irish Cream , and an orange cognac . When prepared properly, the ingredients separate into three distinctly visible layers...
- Baileys Frappe
- Baileys Blended
- Baileys Chocolatini
- Cocksucking Cowboy
A Cocksucking Cowboy is a layered shooter made from two parts cold Butterscotch Schnapps with one part of Baileys Irish Cream, making it 32 proof...
- Chocolate Coffee Kiss
- Cement Mixer - One shot of Baileys and one shot of lime or lemon juice, mix together in mouth.
- Lady boy - including separate glasses of Baileys and gin and tonic as the chasers to a beer (as drunk by Alan Partridge)
- Old GreggNog - Baileys mixed with Egg Nog (based on the character Old Gregg from the Mighty Boosh who has an obsession with Baileys)
- The Wellie Estbrook - One shot of Baileys over ice with lashings of whipped cream.
- Irish Car Bomb
- Mudslide - See Duo and trio cocktails
- Irish Lobotomy (or Teddy Bear) – a shot of vodka and Baileys
- Grandmother's slippers (Finnish drink) - half Baileys, half Salmiakki Koskenkorva
Salmiakki Koskenkorva, is a pre-mixed liqueur which caused a minor revolution in drinking culture in Finland during the 1990s. Canonically salmiakkikossu consists of Koskenkorva Viina vodka and ground up Turkish Pepper brand salty liquorice...
.
- Choc-o-hol
- Smashing Pumpkin Shot
- Brain Hemorrhage
- B55
- Baby Guinness
A Baby Guinness is a shooter, a style of cocktail, or mixed alcoholic beverage, intended to be consumed in one shot. A Baby Guinness contains no Guinness beer...
- China White
- BMW - A shot of Baileys, Malibu and Whisky
- Screaming Orgasm - one shot Vodka, one shot Kahlua, one and a half shots of Baileys, mixed and served over crushed ice
- Baileys Comet
- Hatcher - see Sambuca
Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless, liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as white sambuca to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue in colour or bright red ....
- BBC - Baileys, Brandy and Cointreau
Cointreau is a brand of triple sec produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. It is drunk as an apéritif and digestif, and is a component of several well-known cocktails. It was originally called "Curaçao Blanco Triple Sec".-Production:...
- 3 Steps to Heaven - Shooter containing Baileys, Kahlúa and chocolate vodka
- Baileys Cream Pie
- White Russian
A White Russian is a sweet cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueurs , and cream served with ice in an Old Fashioned glass...
- KGB = Kahlua, Goldschlager, Baileys
- Cloudy Sky.
- Moonwalker.
- Backfire - Shooter made of Bailey's Irish Cream, Kahlúa, and vodka in equal portions
External links