The Best Irish Cream Liqueurs When You Want a Comforting Nightcap (2024)

Irish cream liqueurs are, as you might guess, made with cream, but they are not a centuries-old tradition on the Emerald Isle. The genre of the liqueur only dates back to the 1970s when a stroke of creative genius was inspired by a surplus in both Irish whiskey and cream. In the original offing, the pair was flavored with a touch of Nesquik, as legend has it, and the resulting tipple is now known as Baileys.

Today, several brands with differing recipes and flavor profiles are great as an after-dinner treat either as an accompaniment to or substitute for dessert.For the uninitiated, cream liqueurs have a shelf life. Most sealed products have two years from the time they are bottled and last only a few months after they are opened, so you’ll want to use them quickly.

Thankfully, several delicious cocktails call for a good splash of Irish cream. We like to mix them into milkshakes and mudslides, replace coffee liqueur with Irish cream in a White Russian, and even use them for baking. But our personal favorite use of Irish cream is in an Irish Slammer (formerly known as a car bomb and renamed for obvious reasons).

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Baileys is the original and the iconic label by which all other Irish cream liqueurs are judged. In fact, we’d bet it’s likely the only Irish cream liqueur most drinkers can call by name. You’ll find it on the shelf at nearly every liquor store and behind most bars. Made from Irish dairy cream, whiskey, and spirits and flavored with chocolate and vanilla, it clocks in at a modest 34 proof and 107 calories per ounce. You can sip it over ice, pop it in your coffee, use it in a bevy of decadent cocktails, or even a number of dessert recipes.

Region

: Ireland |ABV:17% |Tasting Notes:Irish whiskey, cocoa, vanilla

What We Like

  • Tasty

  • Great for cold cocktails

What We Don't Like

  • Not as easy to find

Truth be told, Irish cream liqueurs aren’t terribly expensive. But a dollar saved is a dollar earned and they add up. Ryan’s Cream is a great budget-friendly Irish-style cream liqueur. It’s a 34 proof dram of imported Irish whiskey infused with fresh cream, chocolate, and vanilla. While it’s not quite as velvety in the mouth on its own as some other brands, all the flavors you’d expect are there for spiking a pick-me-up or whipping up the tasty indulgence of your choice, be it a mudslide cocktail or an Irish white Russian.

Region: Ireland |ABV:17% |Tasting Notes:Cocoa nibs, fresh cream, vanilla

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What We Like

  • Unique flavor profile

  • Affordable

What We Don't Like

  • Not as easy to find

Carolans Original Irish Cream is made with Irish whiskey and farm-fresh cream and is sweetened with honey. Though it’s named for Turlough O’Carolan, a famed 17th-century musician, the label and recipe were both created in 1978 in County Tipperary, which is located in south-central Ireland. Rather than a dominant chocolate note that other brands boast, the honey flavor is more versatile for creating cocktails of different stripes. Plus, you can always add a bit of chocolate on your own if that’s the kind of drink you’re craving.

Region: Ireland |ABV:17% |Tasting Notes:Heavy cream, honey, coffee beans

What We Like

  • Award winning

  • Industry favorite

  • Uses premium whiskey

What We Don't Like

  • Expensive

For a few dollars more Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur is a splurge both for flavor and as a conversation starter. Not only is it a brand most of your guests won’t know but the unique bottle is inspired by old-timey milk containers. The brand takes premium triple-distilled Irish whiskey and combines it with cream milked from five family-owned farms in County Cork. The expression was nabbed the Chairman’s Trophy at the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Heavy in the mouth, for those of us who prefer to drink our dessert, every glass is chalked full of creme caramel, espresso, and a hint of toasted coconut.

Region: Ireland |ABV:17% |Tasting Notes:Irish whiskey, espresso, toasted coconut

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What We Like

  • Vegan

  • Gluten free

  • Attractive packaging

What We Don't Like

  • Slightly thin on the palate

For those who don’t want or can't have dairy in their diet, Baileys Almande liqueur makes a solid Irish cream substitute. The brand takes its spirit and infuses it with cane sugar-sweetened almond milk and adds a touch of vanilla to make a lovely treat. It’s vegan and gluten-free but there is some soy in the recipe, so for those with allergies, take note. At only 26 proof, it’s great for those who prefer their potables less potent—plus it’s a nice addition to an iced Irish coffee.

Region: United States |ABV:13% |Tasting Notes:Cocoa, Vanilla, Nutty

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What We Like

  • Smooth

  • Unique iteration

  • Affordable

What We Don't Like

  • Not available everywhere

New to the scene! Bailey’s recently launched its first Chocolate Liqueur, which represents the latest iteration in the brand’s award-winning lineup of liqueurs. Crafted using Baileys Original Irish Cream and real Belgian chocolate, this smooth, flavor-packed expression is perfect for fulfilling your sweet tooth craving, as well as mixing into cocktail creations alike. Whether throwing into a chocolate martini or simply enjoying on its own, one thing’s for sure—chocolate lovers, you’re in for a real treat.

Region: Ireland | ABV: 15.7% | Tasting Notes: Chocolate, cocoa, cream

Final Verdict

When it comes to Irish cream liqueurs, Baileys Irish Cream is the most popular—with good reason—pick. If you're looking to experiment with some fun cocktails, we suggest Carolans Irish Cream for its versatile honey flavor that lends itself to a variety of concoctions.

What to Look for When Buying Irish Cream Liqueurs

Taste

Irish cream liqueur is synonymous with a silky, smooth, and creamy taste. When you grab a bottle of this indulgent liqueur, the quality and flavor notes of the ingredients should shine through. Mark McLaughlin, director of Irish whiskey at The Dead Rabbit in New York City, states that when it comes to Irish cream liqueurs, finding equilibrium is key. “Great Irish Cream Liqueurs are all about balance—not too sweet, with a hint of whiskey, and round coffee and chocolate notes,” he says.

Frank Caiafa, director of the spirits portfolio at Banville Wine Merchants in New York City, also seeks out balance, as well as a long but “not saccharine” finish. “The best cream liqueurs have a melted ice cream quality to them,” he says. Elissa Dunn of HellQueen Cocktails shares that when seeking out an Irish cream, she looks for products that use great ingredients, as well as have a great texture and full flavor. Note: Some brands have additional flavors included in them, such as honey, caramel, or coconut. Whatever your favorite is, pour some into a glass and enjoy.

Ingredients

These liqueurs are made with cream, Irish whiskey, chocolate, and sugar, but what other ingredients might be in that bottle? Check the ingredients on the label to see if there is anything else. “Commonly you'll find coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavorings, which all complement the fresh Irish Cream & Irish whiskey to make a decadent, flavourful imbibing experience,” says McLaughlin.

And what about the people who want to drink it but don't want or can't have the dairy? Well, some manufacturers provide Irish cream liqueurs with a non-dairy alternative. Don't knock it until you've tried it out for yourself to see if you enjoy the nuttier taste of almond milk, for instance.

Best by Date / Storage

Dunn notes that Irish cream liqueurs do indeed expire, and how long they last will depend on the brand. “Check each brand individually for storage instructions,” she recommends. However, Caifa notes that a good amount of brands are relatively shelf stable for a good chunk of time—that is, before they are opened. “A good product is delicious enough that once opened, storage should not be an issue,” he says. Many manufacturers put a best-by date on the bottle, so check that date before purchasing to ensure you have the freshest product on hand. Pro tip: Irish cream liqueur should be stored in a dark pantry or cupboard. Unopened bottles will last for around two years.

FAQs

How do you serve Irish cream liqueur?

This liqueur is delicious served on its own with some ice, as a mixer in drinks such as mudslides or White Russians, in coffee, milkshakes, or hot chocolate.

Can Irish cream liqueur be used in baking?

This versatile liqueur is amazing in baking products. McLaughlin shares that the liqueurs are commonly used in cheesecake recipes across homes and restaurants in Ireland, where a splash of Irish Cream Liqueur is added to the cream cheese mixture. Caiafa finds that one of the best ways to utilize the liqueurs in baking is to fortify it and create an icing for cakes. For alternative ideas, try incorporating your favorite Irish cream liqueur into your go-to brownie, fudge, or cake recipes.

What are the best ways to enjoy Irish cream liqueur?

Dunn finds that Irish cream liqueurs are great in coffee, as well as in cocktail creations—or at its simplest, served on its own over ice. Caifa generally pours the liqueurs over ice with an added touch of whiskey, so as to “add a bit of spine—and to slow the intake pace.”

Does Irish cream liqueur need to be kept in the refrigerator?

McLaughlin notes that Irish cream liqueurs don’t necessarily need to be kept in the refrigerator once open, though many producers will recommend that their product is “best served chilled.” For ease, Caiafa prefers to keep all of his cream liqueurs in the refrigerator, “if only to be at the ready for maximum enjoyment.” Dunn feels that most Irish cream liqueurs should be refrigerated upon opening, but that it truly is brand dependent. “Whatever Irish cream you’re using, you’re going to want to look up the storage that each brand recommends,” she says.

What’s a good cocktail to make with Irish cream liqueur?

We like The Dead Rabbit’s After Eight Cocktail! The recipe is below, courtesy of McLaughlin:

Ingredients:

  • 3 ounces After 8 Batch (recipe below)
  • .75 ounces Ketel One Vodka
  • .5 ounces cream
  • 1 dash saline

After 8 Batch

  • 1 teaspoon Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur
  • .5 ounces Espresso Cane Syrup
  • .5 ounces Giffard Cacao
  • 1 ounces Coole Swan Irish Cream
  • 1 ounces Giffard Menthe Pastille

Shake all ingredients together over ice. Strain into glass and garnish with candy cane powder.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Nicholas McClelland is a passionate whisk(e)y drinker who has written about spirits for Men’s Journal, Fatherly, and Inside Hook. His bar is deep with rare single malts, hard-to-find bourbons, and ryes, but he doesn't believe there's anything too precious to share with friends.

Vicki Denig is a wine, spirits, and travel journalist based between New York and Paris. She updated our recommendations in 2024, in addition to interviewing Mark McLaughlin of The Dead Rabbit, Frank Caiafa from Banville Wine Merchants, and Elissa Dunn of HellQueen Cocktails. Her writing regularly appears in major industry publications, including Liquor.com, WineSearcher, Decanter, and beyond. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine.

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