I’ve enjoyed Bailey’s Irish Cream for many years, drinking it as a nightcap, adding it to favorite recipes, and giving it as gifts to my closest friends and family. My husband and I even named our first pet Bailey because we enjoyed drinking Baileys Irish Cream together. Those rare times we would open a bottle and not use it all made us wonder how to store it properly.
“Does Bailey’s Irish Cream go bad?” and “Does Baileys need to be refrigerated?” are two common questions. Since it contains cream, you might think it needs refrigeration. However, Baileys is 17% alcohol, and thanks to a patented process, it doesn’t need refrigeration before or after opening.
Now that you know Baileys doesn’t require refrigeration, maybe you would like additional information about the shelf life of Baileys Irish Cream and how long it lasts after opening? The following will help you decide if your Baileys Irish Cream is ok to drink.
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How Long Does Baileys Last After Opening?
Baileys Irish Cream, the best-selling liquor in the world, has a shelf life of two years. Baileys is the only Irish cream manufacturer who guarantees their product’s taste for two years from manufacture, regardless of whether opened or refrigerated.
Baileys’ unique patented blending of whiskey, cream, cocoa, and vanilla requires no preservatives. The whiskey serves as a natural preservative.
For best results, Baileys does not recommend storing bottles in direct sunlight or heat. If you are concerned about the freshness of a bottle of Baileys, there is a Best Taste Before date on the bottom left-hand side of the Bailey’s bottle’s back label. Here’s an example: Code 11 20 XY means Baileys guarantees the Irish cream inside that bottle will taste perfect until that date. Note: XY is two years from the manufacturing date.
Since Baileys Irish Cream is a sweeter liqueur, it may have a shorter shelf life than other alcoholic beverages once opened. If you don’t know when it was opened, check the best by date on the label, and then do some observations of your own to decide if it is ok to consume or not.
Observe the color and texture of the Baileys. If there is a sour smell to it, it may be bad. Pour a small amount into a glass for closer inspection and a sniff test. If it is dark and cloudy and there are curds in the liquid, or if it has a sour smell, it is spoiled. Do not use it. Baileys can spoil, especially if the opened bottle hasn’t been stored in a cool dark place, or if the lid wasn’t tightly sealed, or if other ingredients have contaminated the bottle. You might compare a glass of Baileys from a freshly opened bottle to a glass from the bottle in question. If the colors, flavors, and fragrances are very different, the older bottle may not be ok to drink.
Is It Safe to Drink Baileys After the Best Taste Before the Date on the Back of the Bottle?
If the unopened Baileys Irish Cream has been stored properly and doesn’t look cloudy, curdled, or smell sour, then it is safe to drink. This may not be the case with an older, opened bottle, so always pour some into a glass, observe and taste test. Always refer to the Best Taste Before Date found on the label located on the back of the bottle.
What is Baileys’ Shelf Life, and Can It Be Stored At Room Temperature?
Opened or unopened, store Baileys Irish Cream in a cool, dark place away from direct heat or sunlight. If the bottle is opened, make sure the lid is tightly sealed. For best results, store in the refrigerator, especially if it is an opened bottle. Baileys has a two-year shelf-life guarantee.
Can you freeze Baileys Irish Cream?
Yes, you can freeze a bottle of Baileys, but the frozen cream will create ice crystals that will drastically change its traditional smooth texture. Freezing and thawing will affect the drink’s quality, creating slushy alcohol with specks of frozen cream. Once you defrost the frozen Baileys, the consistency won’t be the same as before. Freezing will also make it very difficult to pour out of the bottle. If you must freeze your Baileys, try pouring it directly into ice cube trays, put it into the freezer, and when frozen, add the ice cubes to Bailey’s and other beverages to keep cold.
Check out this video and learn exciting ways of drinking bailey:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in Baileys Irish Cream?
Baileys is an Irish cream liqueur created in London in 1974 as a chocolate drink for women. Its patented blending process combines Irish whiskey, dairy cream, cocoa, and vanilla. It contains 17 percent alcohol by volume. The cocoa beans and vanilla that give Baileys the distinct rich chocolatey taste are processed in France,”
Today, more than 80 million bottles of Baileys are produced every year and shipped throughout the entire world to be enjoyed by both men and women. The Baileys brand has evolved into more than just a drink and is added to other cocktails, recipes, and other products, including nonalcoholic coffee creamer and canned coffee drinks.
How do you enjoy Baileys Irish Cream?
Enjoy your Baileys chilled, over ice, added to coffee, cocoa, or tea, as an adult ice cream topping, or added to a variety of alcoholic beverage recipes. It adds a sweet, chocolatey taste when added to cheesecakes, cookies, pastries, bread, desserts, and other baked goods. It is also a flavorful addition to syrups, sauces, glazes, parfaits, puddings, and truffles.
Can drinking Baileys make you drunk?
Yes, since Baileys contains Irish whiskey and has 17 percent alcohol, it is considered an alcoholic beverage and can make you drunk. As with any alcoholic beverage, drink in moderation.
How many calories are in Baileys and is it a healthy drink?
Baileys Irish Cream is not low in calories. Since rich cream is 50 percent of the beverage, a 100 ml serving weighs in at 327 calories, it also contains 20 grams or 4 teaspoons of sugar, making it more of a dessert than a drink. It also contains 13.5 grams of alcohol. One glass of Baileys has more calories than a Milky Way candy bar, so please enjoy in moderation.
Here is some food for thought: The CDC recommends limiting one alcoholic drink per day for women and two for men. Drinking more can negatively affect your overall health and well-being.
Is there a vegan Baileys?
Yes, created for vegetarians and vegans, Baileys Almande is made from sweet almond oil and almond essence extracted from almonds, cane sugar, real vanilla, and purified water creating a lighter taste. It is both dairy and gluten-free.
Baileys Almande has the same two-year freshness guarantee as original Baileys and should be stored in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight or direct heat. The distinct almond flavor of Baileys Almande is different from the original Baileys Irish cream’s chocolate and, like the original, is delicious when it is poured over ice or blended with other cold beverages. Baileys Almande is also delicious added to baked goods and recipes.
Final Words
Baileys Irish Cream was an alcoholic beverage created for women but has evolved into a popular drink for both men and women. It has grown in popularity outside the liquor cabinet and has also entered mainstream grocery stores when in 2019, non-alcoholic coffee creamer and canned cold-brew coffee were launched. Today, Baileys is thinking outside the flavor box and adding even more flavors to their lineup to expand their target audience.
Available flavors include Baileys Salted Caramel, Baileys Chocolate Cherry, Baileys Strawberries & Cream, Baileys Chocolat Luxe, Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon, Baileys Espresso Creme, and seasonal Baileys Pumpkin Spice. Baileys guarantee all for two years from the manufacturing date. Cheers!