Does the Baileys go bad? - The Ultimate Guide

Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur is a popular addition to any liquor cabinet, but the presence of cream causes some concern, especially for newcomers to the drink.

Baileys is often sold in a 750ml or larger bottle, which will make many enjoyable drinks. You may not use the entire bottle in one night, or even over the course of a few months.

The tequila and vodka in your cupboard will last forever, but does Baileys go bad? Yes, although Baileys is an alcoholic beverage, it does contain real milk and cream that spoils over time. However, alcohol helps keep it fresh. A bottle will last approximately 2 years after it is made if stored properly, whether it has been opened or not. 

In this article, you’ll learn what the expiration date for Baileys really means, how to tell if your Baileys are still fresh, and how best to store them so they stay safe and delicious for as long as possible.

Does Baileys expire?

There are many different types of Irish cream liqueur and the Baileys brand is the only company that guarantees that their product will taste delicious for a minimum of 2 years.

Each bottle is stamped with the best before date, which is exactly 2 years after the batch was made.

This is not exactly the same as an expiration date, but beyond 2 years the quality, texture, and flavor will begin to degrade over time.

In most cases, this will cause a slow loss of flavor and a gradual separation between the cream and the alcohol, which can negatively affect the texture.

In some cases, a good shake of the bottle will bring the consistency back to normal, but over time, your Baileys will begin to thicken and curdle.

Is it safe to drink expired Baileys?

It’s probably safe to drink expired Baileys, but it would be wise to check the quality before doing so.

You should be able to tell if your liquor has gone bad, but it might still be perfectly enjoyable and safe for a few weeks or even a few months after the best before date.

If your Baileys has not only expired, but has definitely gone bad, it’s not a good idea to drink it. Curdled cream can make you sick, although it’s not likely to do any lasting harm. However, it will probably taste sour and unappetizing.

Does Baileys Almande expire?

All varieties of Baileys Irish Cream are covered by the same 2 year guarantee . There will be a best before date stamped on your bottle, although if stored properly it may last longer.

Baileys Almande has a slightly lower alcohol content than the original flavor, which may suggest it goes bad more quickly. However, on the other hand, almond milk will stay fresh quite a bit longer than dairy milk.

When you see that a bottle of Baileys, or any other Irish cream liqueur, has passed its recommended expiration date, double check the liquid to make sure it hasn’t gone bad before you start serving drinks.

How can you tell if the Baileys has gone bad?

There are three ways to check the quality of your Baileys before you start drinking it.

First, pour a small amount into a glass and check for the following signs of spoilage. then check

1. Smell : If the liquor smells musty or has a custard-like aroma, it has probably gone bad.
2. The texture: If the consistency of the liquid has gone from thick and creamy to icy or lumpy, your Irish cream may be curdling.
3. Colour: If you notice any separation between the milk and the whiskey, so that your drink appears dark and cloudy instead of creamy and opaque, your Baileys has gone bad.

If the smell, texture and color sounds like a healthy and delicious glass of Baileys to you, but you’re still worried, take a small sip of the poured drink.

You’ll notice right away if it tastes tart, with a taste similar to sour cream or yogurt. If it is sour, it is no longer good. If it’s still sweet and creamy, you can enjoy your drink of choice.

What happens if you drink Baileys curdled?

This is a complicated question. Curdled Baileys, surprisingly, doesn’t always mean it’s bad or unsafe to drink. You just may not like the taste.

If your Baileys is past its expiration date, has been stored improperly, or if there’s any chance that an external contaminant has gotten into the bottle and the liquor is curdling when you pour it into a glass, it’s probably gone bad.

This can make you sick, although not in a life-threatening way.

If you’re making a mixed drink that includes Baileys that should be perfectly fine and fresh, the problem may be the mix.

Any dairy product curdles if acid is introduced into the drink. Citrus juice or soda are common examples of mixers that can cause your Baileys to curdle.

An experienced drink mixer will know the proper technique for making an Irish Soda, for example, without the Baileys curdling, but a novice might serve up a lumpy drink.

If you’re experimenting for yourself and are willing to put up with the weird texture of a curdled drink, this is safe and won’t make you sick.

As Baileys can curdle with many popular mixers, it is most often served alongside coffee or hot chocolate, which are not acidic enough to curdle spirit cream.

How long does Baileys last?

As we have already said, Baileys guarantees its products for 2 years from the date of manufacture. But it is highly unlikely that the day after the best before date the product will suddenly spoil.

If stored as suggested, at temperatures no higher than 25C or 77F and away from direct sunlight, some people have been able to drink their Baileys years after the date stamped on their bottle.

Other people are not so lucky, or perhaps not as careful with their storage, and their Irish cream isn’t fit to drink until a few weeks after opening the bottle.

How long does Baileys keep unopened?

An unopened bottle of Baileys, stored properly, should last months, if not years, past the best before date . Alcohol is an effective enough preservative to keep fresh cream in a completely enclosed environment.

Exposure to heat can and probably will influence these results, so make sure your bottles are stored in a basement, cool, dark room, or fridge, especially if you plan to save the bottle for a date. in a distant future.

How long does Baileys last once opened?

Once opened, there are many more factors that can influence the freshness of your Baileys. The company continues to guarantee the product for 2 years , but you have to be more careful with the storage and use of your liquor.

Once the seal is broken, the drink it contains will be even more sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so always try to keep it refrigerated. As soon as you’ve poured the drink, reseal the bottle and return it to its cool, dark place.

Another important factor in keeping your Baileys fresh is protecting it from outside contamination.

Never drink directly from the bottle. It’s normally considered polite to pour yourself a glass regardless, but drinking from the bottle can allow bacteria to get into it, where they can colonize and curdle your Irish cream.

You should also be careful about leaving the bottle uncovered or unsealed for any significant period of time.

The alcohol does a good job of killing anything that might invade your bottle, but the cream is still a rich and enticing lure for a variety of pathogens.

The longer your bottle is open to air, the more risk it will have for mold or spoilage.

How long does no brand irish cream last?

Non-branded simply means any generic or less popular brand of Irish whiskey.

Baileys is by far the most popular, but there are many other options that may be less expensive or have unique flavors that you may be interested in trying.

Baileys is the only Irish whiskey that offers some kind of quality guarantee on its product.

Other brands have an expiration date stamped on their bottles. Most suggest that the liquor will stay fresh between 6 months and 2 years if the bottle is not properly opened and stored in a cool, dark place.

Once opened, most no-brand Irish creams recommend storing the bottle in the fridge for no more than 6 months . After this time, the cream does not curdle, but the flavor and consistency may start to degrade more quickly.

How long does homemade Irish cream last?

Making your own version of Baileys or an Irish cream liqueur is easier than you think, but it certainly won’t come with a 2-year guarantee.

There are a few recipes available with slight variations in the ingredients used, and each will likely offer a specific recommendation for how long the drink can be safely kept.

Most recipes use some combination of heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate or cocoa syrup, vanilla extract and, of course, Irish whiskey. Some also ask for a small amount of instant coffee.

The higher the alcohol content of the whiskey, the longer your Irish cream will last.

Also, if you decide to use an alternative to dairy milk, such as almond milk or soy milk, the result will not be as creamy, but it may last longer. Nut or soy milks have a naturally longer shelf life than dairy milk.

Depending on the ingredients, you can expect homemade Irish cream to stay fresh in the fridge, if tightly covered and sealed, for up to 2 months.

How to preserve Baileys

Storage instructions are printed on all Baileys bottles and it is always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

In large, bold type at the top of its back label is the “ refrigerate for best flavor ” recommendation. However, just below they also suggest that the bottle should be stored between 0-25C or 32-77F.

For many people, keeping Baileys in the liquor cabinet should be fine, as long as your house isn’t too hot in the summer months.

Does Baileys need to be refrigerated after opening?

No, according to the label it does not need to be refrigerated, even after opening. However, “refrigerate for best flavor” is recommended.

Since most drinks using Irish Cream are enjoyed chilled, keeping Baileys in the fridge would help maintain serving temperatures.

Most other brands of Irish Cream or any other alcohol based cream recommend refrigeration once opened. As the title suggests, there are dairy products in the mix that can go bad if not stored properly.

If you are concerned about the safety or quality of your bottle, storing it in the fridge never hurts and is most likely a good idea, although for Baileys exclusively, it is not necessary.

Related questions

What alcohol/how much alcohol does Baileys have?

Baileys alcohol is Irish whiskey, which is made from unmalted, triple-distilled barley, blended with grain whisky.

It is known to be an extremely mild alcohol. It is flavored with cream, cocoa and other flavorings and added sweeteners. The alcohol by volume (ABV) of the original Baileys is 17%.

Does Baileys have caffeine?

There may be trace amounts of caffeine in the original Baileys due to the cocoa aromas, but it would not be enough to affect even a small child.

Baileys has an Espresso-flavored Irish Cream that packs a little more caffeine, clocking in at about 37mg/8oz. By comparison, an 8-ounce cup of real coffee has more than 180 mg of caffeine.

Baileys Irish Cream is often used as an ingredient in alcoholic coffees, which of course would increase the caffeine content to that of the coffee itself.

Other brands of Irish cream liqueur may also have varying amounts of caffeine. But unless they’re coffee flavored or pre-mixed with coffee, they’re not likely to have much more than trace amounts of caffeine.

What is good to mix with Baileys?

If you’re new to mixing drinks with Baileys, the last thing you want to do is experiment. You don’t want to guess that it can be treated in the same way as other spirits like rum or brandy, and then have your cocktail curdle in front of you.

Baileys is usually mixed with coffee or hot chocolate, or with other alcohols as well. But there are many other options that you can consider.

If you’re feeling creative, try one of these:

• a pint of guinness
• black tea
• Kahlua and cold milk or cold coffee
• Ice cream
• Rum, Kahlua, cocoa powder and banana extract

Does the Baileys have milk?

Yes, the classic Baileys Irish Cream contains milk, both in the form of cream and modified milk proteins.

The brand launched in 2016 a vegan version of its classic alcohol that is made with almond milk instead, called Baileys Almande . It is now available in most areas of the world through major liquor suppliers.

Although Baileys Almande is made with Irish whiskey, it focuses more on the nuttiness of almond milk and brings more vanilla flavor and less chocolate flavor than the original brand.

The Almande version is also much finer and smoother than the original. It’s a great vegan alternative, but it’s by no means an exact duplicate of the original liquor.

Is Baileys gluten free?

All additional ingredients in Baileys are gluten free, but do contain Irish Whiskey. Irish whiskey is made from grains that contain gluten, although the distillation process should remove that gluten.

If you are very sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, you may want to avoid Baileys and other Irish cream products, or at least consume a small amount as a test to see if you have a reaction.