Irish Cream

A blend of Irish whiskey, dairy cream, and sweeteners/flavorings (often chocolate and vanilla notes); Baileys is the best-known brand and effectively defined the category since its 1974 launch. A genuine emulsification challenge (keeping cream and alcohol stably combined without separating or spoiling) makes commercial production more technically demanding than most other liqueur categories.

Profile

Creamy, chocolate and vanilla notes over an Irish whiskey base.

Notable Examples

Baileys.

Irish cream in coffee after a hearty meal is a reliable classic.