Baileys

First introduced in 1974 as a deliciously mouthwatering fusion of cocoa, praline, cream and Irish whiskey, Baileys is a sophisticated Irish cream liqueur adored by all.

Considering its relatively recent conception, Baileys has caused quite the international stir. At a pleasant 17% ABV, and with a promise of a two-year shelf life (despite having dairy as one of its main ingredients), the Irish cream liqueur is a much-loved spirit.

Whether you enjoy it in a coffee as a grown-up pick-me-up, in a Baileys cocktail, or as a slightly naughty winter hot chocolate, Baileys simply makes good things *that *much better.

The creamy liqueur has since transcended its original form, and there are now countless Baileys flavors to choose from.

So, if you fancy a change from Baileys Original, you can easily spice things up with Baileys Chocolate Luxe, made with Belgian chocolate, Baileys Strawberries & Cream, or the autumnal Baileys Pumpkin Spice, to name just a few of the delectable variations.

Simply put: Baileys takes the best things in life and unites them, resulting in a celebration of sweet, scrumptious, heaven-in-a-bottle.

Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur is the perfect marriage of fresh, premium-quality Irish dairy cream, fines spirits, Irish whiskey and chocolate flavors.

Baileys’ bottle sizes and prices

Bottle	Size	Price (USD)
Baileys Original Irish Cream	750ml	$30
Baileys Original Irish Cream	1 liter	$39
Baileys Original Irish Cream	1.75 liter	$51
Baileys Irish Cream Strawberries & Cream	750ml	$29
Baileys Almande	750ml	$29
Baileys Irish Cream Vanilla	750ml	$29
Baileys Red Velvet	750ml	$29
Baileys Salted Caramel	750ml	$29
Baileys Espresso Crème	750ml	$29
Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon	750ml	$29
Baileys Apple Pie	750ml	$29
Baileys Chocolate Cherry	750ml	$29
Baileys Minis	3 x 100ml	$11

Baileys Irish Cream: The first and only Irish cream liqueur

Rather than being the product of a slew of experiments in a makeshift factory, Baileys Irish Cream was the calculated invention of a team selected especially for the job of making a cream liqueur.

That team was headed by head of innovation at International Distiller & Vintners, Tom Jago. Jago was English, as were the rest of his team, bar one South African national.

So, to promptly dispel a very common misconception, Baileys Irish Cream isn’t particularly Irish at all. Even its name was carefully crafted not to sound too Irish. Presumably, to cater to a global market. In fact, ‘Baileys’ was simply the name of the restaurant below the head offices, based in SoHo, London.

Find your perfect Baileys type

If Irish Cream isn’t your style, don’t worry: Baileys have ensured that there’s a Baileys flavor out there for everyone. Vegan? No problem. You can still enjoy a fine serving of Baileys Almande, which is 100% dairy-free.

This vegan-friendly Baileys is made with real almond milk to create a light-tasting and versatile drink.

Baileys is a must-have for those with a sweet tooth, and a penchant for the novel. Innovative Baileys types include Baileys Red Velvet; a drinkable version of the famous forest fruit cake, Orange Truffle; which is like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, but with booze; or Baileys Biscotti; for a taste of Italy.

Plus, if you find yourself in Mexico, be sure to try Baileys Dulce de Leche (that’s if you’ve had enough margaritas, of course).

Even teetotallers can enjoy the rich swirl of Irish cream: In early 2019, Baileys released a cornucopia of non-alcoholic varieties. Fans can now start on the Baileys earlier in the day (without being quietly judged), with Baileys Irish Creamers.

Simply add a little Original Irish Cream, Mocha Mudslide, or Vanilla Cream to your morning coffee for an angelic, yet decadent treat.

So, Baileys has certainly made sure nobody gets left out when it comes to Irish cream liqueur. Inclusivity at its very best.

The Baileys prototype

The decision to create an Irish cream liqueur may have been one of a conglomerate, but still, the inventors had to start somewhere.

Upon receiving instructions for their new project, two of the Baileys team headed to the corner shop and stocked up on Jameson’s whiskey, Cadbury’s Drinking Chocolate, and cream. After a presumably excellent day at work, they had their prototype: a mixture of these ingredients served in a re-used Schweppes bottle.

The moral of the story being: if you ever run out of real Baileys, you know what to do!

Propping up the Irish dairy industry

Okay, while the idea was arguably less Irish than we’re led to believe (who cares, it’s delicious), the ingredients are very much Irish.

Aside from Irish whiskey, a key ingredient in the Baileys recipe, is simple, unassuming cream. But it’s the* amount* of cream used that’s a little mind-blowing.

Every year, Baileys’ factories use 200 million liters of Irish whole milk, mostly supplied from small, family-owned farms. For perspective, that amount of milk would fill 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Baileys = calories

Baileys is by no means guilt-free with its liberal use of milk, sugar, cocoa and alcohol.

There’s no sugar-coating the fact that Baileys is an indulgent tipple. When it comes to Baileys’ calories, the number-crunching gets more than a little uncomfortable…

One 50ml shot of Baileys Irish Cream contains a startling 175 calories. As spirits go, Baileys is definitely on the Epicurean side of indulgent. But its deliciousness is unrivaled (literally– it’s the only Irish cream liqueur on the market), so sometimes, you’ve just got to go for it.

But, while it may be heavy on the calories, Baileys is surprisingly affordable. Baileys price ranges from $30-35 for 1 liter, to $40 for 1.75 liters. Tempting, indeed.

How to drink Baileys

Although it’s a delicious addition to dessert cocktails, poured over ice cream, or to ramp up a coffee, the finest way to appreciate Baileys’ unique creaminess is to drink it straight, over ice. Simply pour a generous serving of Baileys into a chilled rocks glass, over a handful of ice. Sip slowly and let the coffee, praline and whiskey notes enliven your taste buds.