Bailey’s Liqueur Irish Cream

When one thinks of the words “Irish cream”, there is no doubt that the first thing that pops up in your head is Bailey’s. It is the go-to brand when talking about Irish cream. It has a consistent flavour of rich chocolate and vanilla, indulgent with every sip. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that no Christmas or holiday is complete without a glass of Bailey's fine Irish whiskey.

About Bailey’s: Award-Winning Whiskey Liqueur 

Bailey's Irish cream is a brand of the finest Irish spirits that is made up of Irish whiskey, cream, and other sweet-tasting ingredients, like chocolate. It is typically drunk on its own or used as a mixing base for a variety of cocktails or drinks, like Irish coffee. Irish liqueurs usually contain 15% to 20% ABV, and Bailey's has a declared alcohol content of 17% ABV.

It is produced and distributed by multinational alcohol beverage company Diageo PLC. The company has over 140 production sites around the world and was considered the world’s largest distiller until 2017. Bailey's is just one of its many brands in its catalogue and is mainly made at its production sites in Nangor Road, Dublin, Ireland, and Mallusk, Northern Ireland.

Premium Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey...

Considered the world’s first cream liqueur, and greatly popular in New Zealand, the original recipe was invented by Tom Jago and his team in 1971. It was originally made for the Gilbeys company of Ireland when they were experimenting with products to introduce to the international market. Initially, they came up with a drink that used Irish whiskey as a base mixed with cream, which they thought was easy to drink. This drink went on to become the world’s first unique Irish spirit after its launch in 1974.

Inspired by the Bailey’s Hotel!

Interestingly enough, Bailey is not a real person and has no involvement with the creation of the actual drink. Instead, the restaurant owner John Chesterman allowed Gilbeys to use the name of one of his restaurants to use as a name for the brand. Even the famous R.A Bailey signature that can be found in its bottle is fictional. It was inspired by The Bailey’s Hotel located in Kensington, London.

Bailey’s Secret Recipe...

To this day, the company refuses to reveal its source of whiskey, but it is undoubtedly Irish. Bailey's was born out of a desire to combine two of the Emerald Isle’s most famous exports and of necessity to use alcohol from money-losing distilleries and high-quality Irish dairy. And indeed, an icon was born.

The Drink for Non-Drinkers...

Due to the luxurious cream emulsified into the liqueur, Bailey's is one of the most palatable alcoholic drinks in New Zealand. It has a velvet feel that packs a boozy punch. The Irish whiskey is the perfect base that balances out the creaminess of the best-known Irish cream, chocolate, and vanilla. It also contains another type of spirit that the company does not intend to disclose. If anything, it just adds a tiny bit of mystery to the luxurious drink.

Preservative free

The manufacturer claims that no preservatives are added to the product to preserve the cream because the alcohol content does a fine job. The overall product also includes other herbs, which remain a company secret. The Irish liquor used in the product comes from a dairy factory based in Ireland called Glanbia. They have been the main cream suppliers of the company for more than 30 years, and every year, they, along with several other small family-owned farms, produce almost 200 million litres of whole milk exclusively for Bailey's, enough to fill 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Two-year shelf life!

Milk-based drinks naturally separate during storage. This prompted Bailey's to create a process where the cream and Irish whiskey are homogenised along with refined vegetable oil. The result of this emulsion prevents the separation of the alcohol from the cream.

The shelf life of the classic store is two years. It also tastes the same throughout that two years, opened or unopened, refrigerated, or stored at room temperature. This makes it a drink you don’t have to worry about constantly going bad.

How to enjoy

No matter how many rural liqueurs you try, you’ll uncertainly go back to a bottle of Bailey's at the end of the day. It has a medium brown colour when poured, almost reminiscent of a freshly roasted and strong but milky coffee. The best way that New Zealand consumers enjoy Bailey's is with ice, but not too much that it dilutes the flavour. Just enough to chill and lighten the overall flavour just a bit. It is a drink that should not be rushed but sipped and savoured with delight.

Smell the Chocolate & Vanilla...

It is not harsh on the nose as it smells like sweet melted chocolate and fresh vanilla bean, taking you back to summers in your grandmother’s kitchen baking chocolate-chip cookies. No wonder Bailey's is associated with home.

The first sip is a balanced and well-rounded combination of silky smooth, sharp, and hot all at once. It fills your mouth with a velvet flavour that is hard to ignore and hits your palate like your favourite milkshake that’s, of course, spiked with a bit of whiskey.

The second sip only heightens that initial warm and rich sensation. The various flavours hit you one after the other and finish with warm notes of the drink, tasting the whiskey, chocolate, and vanilla all at once. There is undoubtedly no other whiskey cream that comes close to the mouthwatering fusion of cocoa, vanilla, cream, and Irish whiskey one enjoys when drinking Bailey's.

Enjoy in moderation, guilt-free.

However, it is by no means guilt-free. There’s no sugarcoating the fact that one shot of Bailey's contains over 175 calories. But it’s a drink not meant to be binged, but rather a drink that one needs to indulge and enjoy slowly. 

While heavy on calories, it is also slightly heavy on the wallet. In New Zealand the price of Bailey's ranges from $40 to $55 for every 700ml to 1-litre bottle, making it pricier than other cream liqueurs available in the market. But its unrivalled quality makes up for all of it, making it money well spent. Additionally, you can order it for delivery, and you can order online, making it easy for all customers to give it a try. So get this quality mix delivered right to your door!

The perfect drink for any occasion!

Over the years, it has become a staple at houses every Christmas and New Year. Every alcohol-drinking person has almost always a core memory attributed to Bailey's. It is truly a drink adored by all.

If Irish cream isn't your cup of tea– or cream in this matter, Bailey's has a lot of other varieties in their catalogue aside from the classic. The company made sure that nobody gets left out to enjoy a delicious drink of Bailey's. 

Enjoy dairy free deliciousness...

Bailey's Almande is 100% dairy-free, making vegans enjoy this coffee liqueur. Even non-alcohol drinkers can even enjoy a classic taste of Bailey's with its line of non-alcoholic Bailey's delicious Creamers. 

In the last few years, and following the success of previously released variants, Bailey's has introduced over 12 different flavours worldwide, including Mint Chocolate, Coffee, Orange Truffle, Salted Caramel, Strawberries, and the latest addition, Chocolat Luxe.

Choose from a variety of flavours!

Bailey's north island cream is a must-have for those with a sweet tooth and a penchant for the novel. Bailey's also offers innovative and ambitious types, including the Bailey's Red Velvet, Bailey's Biscotti, and even a special Bailey's Dulce de Leche is also available locally in Mexico to cater to their Mexican palate. They also have a Bailey's Gold north island variety marketed toward the Japanese market. Available flavours include Apple Pie, Vanilla Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Espresso, Coffee Mocha, Latte, and Salted Caramel. 

Now that’s inclusivity at its finest.

Mixing? Go Bailey's.

Bailey's Irish cream is the preferred brand for most cream-based cocktails in New Zealand. One of the more famous mixes is the B-52, a layered shooter that uses a coffee liqueur, Bailey's, and Grand Marnier.

If you're a fan of creamy drinks, then you can't go wrong with a Christmas Alexander. It is made with Bailey's, cream, and crème de cacao. Be careful with this concoction, though. You might get tempted to indulge in this drink due to its friendly and sweet flavour, but drink responsibly as its is 17% alcohol

Adding even just a dash of Bailey's Original Irish Cream, Mocha Mudslide, or Vanilla Cream to your afternoon coffee can make for a decadent treat.

Bailey's is surprisingly versatile considering its flavour profile, but that makes it enjoyable in many forms like in a coffee, a cocktail, or as a slightly naughty hot chocolate. Bailey's takes the most basic but enjoyable and already good things of life and makes it better.

It truly tastes like heaven in a bottle.

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