Baileys Irish Cream

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200 ml bottle of Baileys Irish Cream
200 ml bottle of Baileys Irish Cream

Baileys Irish Cream (the registered trade mark omits the apostrophe), is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Andrew Bailey of the R. A. Bailey & Co. of Dublin, Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume.[1]

Introduced in 1974, Baileys was the first Irish Cream liqueur on the market but there are now a growing number of other brands available.

Contents

[edit] Manufacture

Baileys was the first liqueur to use cream and alcohol together in a manner sufficiently stable to allow commercial distribution. The cream and whiskey are homogenized to form an emulsion, with the aid of an emulsifier containing refined vegetable oil. This process prevents separation of the whiskey and cream during storage. The quantity of other ingredients used is not known but they include chocolate, vanilla, caramel and sugar.

According to the manufacturer no preservatives are required, the whiskey alone is used to preserve the cream.

The cream used in the drink comes from Glanbia Plc. The co-operative dairy used is located in Virginia, County Cavan, about 50 miles outside of Dublin. More than 4 million litres of Irish cream a year is used in the production of Baileys, this amounts to 4.3% of Ireland’s total milk production.[2]

[edit] Storage and shelf life

According to the manufacturer Baileys has a shelf life of 24 months and it should be stored between 0 to 25 degrees Celsius, or 32 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

[edit] Drinking

A glass of Baileys coffee
A glass of Baileys coffee

Irish Cream can be drunk by itself, over ice or as part of a cocktail. It is also commonly used as an addition to coffee in lieu of cream or sugar and also, with the Baileys unboiled, served with Horlicks.

As is the case with milk, cream will curdle whenever it comes into contact with a weak acid. Milk and cream contain casein 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.

This coagulation has given rise to an urban legend in Belgium and the Netherlands that the combination of Baileys and tonic is lethal. [3][4]

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 swallowed.

Baileys Coffee is made using a measure of Baileys in a cup of coffee and then topped off with cream.


[edit] Baileys Nutrition Facts

Calories 94 Calories from Fat 52

Serving Size: 37 mL (1.3 oz.)

Total Fat 5.8g Saturated Fat 3.5g

Cholesterol 136mg

Sodium 33mg

Total Carbohydrate 5.7g Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 7.4g

Protein 0g

[edit] Variant flavors

 This section does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

In 2003, Bailey & Co. launched Baileys Glide, a less cloying, longer drink with 4.0% ABV, aimed at the alcopop market. The product was discontinued in 2006.


In 2005, Baileys launched a mint chocolate and creme caramel variant of their Irish Cream at 17%ABV. They were originally released in UK airports and were subsequently released in the mass market of the UK in 2006.

In 2008, Baileys, after the success of previous flavour variants, released a coffee variant of their Irish Cream with and ABV of 17%. Currently only available in World Duty Free stores.

[edit] Cocktails containing Baileys

See also: List of cocktails

[edit] See also

[edit] References

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
  1. ^ http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/09/050926tabaccocomment.pdf
  2. ^ From a review at ciao.co.uk
  3. ^ Apekool: Van teveel cocktails loop je uiteindelijk wel een alcoholvergiftiging op. Maar hoe gevaarlijk is een Baileys met tonic? (html) (2005).
  4. ^ Gaan Baileys en tonic samen? (html) (2005).
  • Diageo History
  • Adams Beverage Group, Beverage Dynamics (January/February 2006), p.42

[edit] External links