Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream (the registered trade mark omits the apostrophe), is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by 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.
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 Avonmore Waterford Plc. This is a co-operative dairy located about 70 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]
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.
Drinking
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 lime cordial. 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 swallowed.
Baileys Coffee is made using a measure of Baileys in a cup of coffee and then topped off with cream.
Variant flavors
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 2004, a Baileys commercial featuring a cover of the 70s Minnie Riperton song Les Fleur was aired on TV.
In 2005, Baileys launched a mint chocolate and creme caramel variant of their Irish Cream, with the same 17% alcohol content as the original.
Cocktails containing Baileys
- B52
- Baileys Frappe
- Baileys Blended
- Baileys Chocolatini
- Car Bomb
- Chocolate Coffee Kiss
- E.T
- The Phil Kollin
- Irish Carbomb
- Irish Dream
- Mudslide
- Irish Lobotomy
- Teddy Bear – a shot of vodka and Baileys
- Grandmother's slippers(Finnish drink)
- Choc-o-hol
- Smashing Pumpkin Shot
- Brain Hemorrhage
- B55
- Baby Guinness - Bailey's and Tia Maria
- China White
- BMW - A shot of Baileys, Malibu and Whisky
- Irish Bar Maid
- Irish Lass
- Baileys Comet
- Hatcher - see Sambuca
- BBC - Baileys, Brandy and Cointreu
References
- ^ http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/09/050926tabaccocomment.pdf
- ^ From a review at ciao.co.uk
- Diageo History
- Adams Beverage Group, Beverage Dynamics (January/February 2006), p.42