Baileys Original Irish Cream

Baileys Original Irish Cream is a cream liqueur from Ireland, bottled at 17% ABV, and that low strength shapes how you use it. It is a sweet, dessert-leaning liqueur, not a whiskey in the sense of a bourbon, rye or Scotch. It is built on Irish whiskey blended with dairy cream, so the whiskey is a backbone behind a soft, rounded sweetness. Liqueurs in this style usually show chocolate and vanilla up front, with a gentle grain and oak warmth underneath and no smoke or sharp spice. Expect a thick, smooth texture that coats the palate. Because it is already sweet and creamy, it needs very little to be enjoyable. Poured neat in a small measure, it works as an after-dinner drink. Over ice is the more common choice. The cold mutes the sweetness slightly and thins the body, which makes it easier to drink slowly. A splash of water is not needed here, since the ABV is low and nothing needs opening up. A short rocks glass suits ice service. A Glencairn is more than this style requires, though a small tulip glass will concentrate the cocoa and vanilla aromas if you want to nose it. In mixed drinks it behaves differently from a whiskey. It does not belong in an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan or a Whiskey Sour, and a highball would mean topping it with soda, which does not suit cream. Its natural partners are coffee and chocolate. Stir it into hot or iced coffee, pour it over vanilla ice cream, or shake it with ice and a shot of espresso for a quick dessert drink. Another simple option is to build it over ice with a measure of vodka or Irish whiskey for a stronger, drier result. Cream liqueurs can thicken or curdle when mixed with high-acid ingredients such as citrus, so keep it away from sour mixers. For food, it pairs with brownies, cheesecake, shortbread and other chocolate or caramel desserts, or you can use it to flavor whipped cream or milkshakes. Once opened, keep the bottle sealed and store it as the label directs. Shake it before pouring, as the cream can settle.