Baileys (Russian: Baileys and Baileys) - cream liqueur with a strength of 17%. Like all sweet low-alcohol drinks, it is a digestif. Produced since 1974 by the Irish company RA Bailey&Co. The main ingredients of the drink are whiskey and cream produced in Ireland. It is known that the composition contains only natural products, but the exact recipe of the liqueur is kept in the strictest confidence.
The founder of the brand is considered to be David Dand; it was he who came up with the idea of mixing not the most suitable ingredients - whiskey with cream. The resulting drink amazed me with its original taste. The only problem was the ingredients separated, but four years later all the errors were corrected, the recipe was brought to perfection, and the shelf life was increased by one and a half years.
Interestingly, almost half of the cream produced in Ireland is used to make Baileys liqueur. The liqueur has gained worldwide popularity; it is supplied to 180 countries. 50% of the country's alcohol exports come from Baileys liqueur, and the second part from the famous Irish whiskey.
A simple recipe for homemade Baileys liqueur
It is unlikely that you will be able to replicate real Baileys liqueur at home due to the lack of an original recipe, but a similar imitation of the drink can be reproduced. There are a large number of recipes and they are all unique in their own way. Some of them, time-tested, are described below.
When preparing liqueur, it is advisable to use good Irish whiskey. But if this is not possible, then you can replace it with vodka, cognac will do. If you plan to make baileys from moonshine, then it should be as free of fusel oils as possible. Otherwise, the specific aroma of the distillate will overwhelm the delicate creamy taste of the drink. All products used - cream, eggs - must be fresh.
Proportions:
- Alcohol 40-45% – 500 ml;
- Eggs – 4 pcs.;
- Condensed milk – 1 can;
- Cream (12-15%) – 400 ml;
- Instant coffee – 1 tbsp. l;
- Vanilla sugar – 2 tbsp.
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How to do:
- Separate egg yolks from whites.
- Using a mixer, beat the yolks with vanilla sugar and condensed milk into a homogeneous mixture. To give the liqueur a beautiful creamy color, it is recommended to boil condensed milk in a jar for 40 minutes before whipping.
- Add instant coffee to the milk and egg mixture and beat the mixture again.
- Pour in the cream, stir thoroughly.
If the cream is very thick and fatty, then it is better to dilute it with a small amount of milk.
- Pour in the selected alcohol base (whisky, vodka or cognac), stir and close the container with an airtight lid.
- Place the almost finished liqueur in the refrigerator for three days. Shake the contents twice a day.
The finished drink has a strength of 17% and has a similar taste to the original one. Can be stored in a cold place for up to six months. But it is advisable to use homemade Baileys within a month. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare the drink for a specific date or holiday. Over time, the liqueur separates, and this is the main difference between homemade liqueur and real liqueur. In this case, you just need to shake the drink well.
By adding 50 grams of roasted hazelnuts to the recipe, you get nutty Baileys. In this case, the nuts are infused for 15 days on an alcohol basis; further preparation is similar to the technology of the previous recipe.
History of the drink
Baileys liqueur has been produced since 1974.
Its strength is 17 percent. It was this drink that became the first among the numerous cream liqueurs today. True, none of them managed to repeat the enormous success of Beilis.
In the first year alone from the start of production, 72 thousand bottles were produced.
Today, in addition to Baileys Original (that is, the classic version of Baileys liqueur), a whole line of drinks based on it is produced. These include Baileys Mint Chocolate (with the addition of chocolate and mint, respectively), Baileys Cream Caramel (with caramel) and Baileys Cream Coffee (with the addition of coffee).
Complete Cream Liqueur Recipe
The drink made according to this recipe tastes more like the original liqueur. The composition of ingredients has been increased, and the cooking process itself differs little from that described above.
Components:
- Whiskey, cognac – 500 ml;
- Cream (12%) – 500 ml;
- Condensed milk – 1 can;
- Eggs – 4 pcs.;
- Honey – 1 tbsp;
- Instant coffee – 1 tbsp. l;
- Vanilla sugar – 50 g;
- Sugar caramel – 4 tbsp. l;
- Ground ginger – 2 g;
- Nutmeg, oak bark, cinnamon - one pinch each.
Cooking method:
- Pour half the vanilla sugar, caramel, honey and spices into alcohol. Leave for 5 days, then strain.
- Beat the egg yolks, cream and remaining sugar with a mixer.
- Add condensed milk, coffee and alcoholic infusion to the whipped mass. Mix everything again using a blender or mixer.
- Pour into bottles and let the drink mature for a week in the refrigerator.
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Cooking features
The liqueur should have a creamy or creamy caramel flavor, and the alcohol content should not exceed 17%.
Granulated sugar is taken at the rate of 20 g per 1/2 glass of drink.
Shelf life - no more than 2 years if the temperature is maintained at up to +25 degrees. If egg yolks were added according to the recipe, then Baileys can be stored for no more than 7 days and only in a cool place.
Those who support dietary nutrition must remember that liqueur is very high in calories - 100 grams of the product contains almost 350 kcal.
There are several flavor options for this interesting drink:
- classical;
- mint;
- coffee;
- caramel;
- hazelnut;
- chocolate.
Baileys liqueur should not be mixed with tonic, sparkling water, or freshly squeezed citrus juices. The cream in the drink can curdle when interacting with acids, therefore, the taste of the finished product will change.
Like any food product, Baileys has contraindications:
- Persons under 18 years of age.
- With the manifestation of diseases of the excretory and nervous systems, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.
- In case of individual intolerance to the components.
- The period of bearing a child and breastfeeding.
On the Internet you can find many recipes for making Baileys at home. We invite you to consider several recipes with vodka.
Creamy Baileys - recipe without condensed milk
Ingredients:
- Irish whiskey – 200 ml;
- Vodka – 200 ml;
- Cream (20%) – 500 ml;
- Egg yolks – 4 pcs.;
- Instant coffee – 25 g;
- Powdered sugar – 200 gr;
- Vanilla sugar – 10 gr.
Preparation:
- Beat the yolks with a mixer until fluffy foam forms.
- Pour the cream into a saucepan and place on low heat.
- While stirring the cream, add powdered sugar, yolks, vanilla sugar and coffee in small portions.
- It is important that the contents of the saucepan do not heat above 40 degrees.
- Remove the thickened mass from the stove and let cool.
- Add vodka and whiskey, stir thoroughly with a mixer.
- Pour the homemade liqueur into bottles and keep it in the refrigerator for a couple of days to mature.
Product Description
- The main ingredient in Baileys is cream from local Irish farms.
- Triple distilled whiskey is added to them, as well as cocoa beans, vanilla, and sugar.
- The strength of the drink is 17%.
- There are no preservatives in this liqueur, although it contains a perishable product - cream. The fact is that the preservation process takes place using the purest whiskey, which is why the shelf life of Baileys can be up to two years.
- The main thing is to maintain a storage temperature of +5 to +25 degrees and not leave the bottle in the sun or in the freezer. If overheated, the cream included in the drink may simply curdle, creating lumps.
- Hypothermia of Baileys is fraught with crystallization of sugar, which will precipitate and change the taste and consistency of the drink.
Egg-free liqueur
It is known from reliable sources that real Belis liqueur does not contain egg yolks. To get as close to the authentic drink as possible, the recipe uses Irish whiskey as the alcoholic base.
Compound:
- Whiskey – 200 ml;
- Cream (15%) – 500 ml;
- Condensed milk – 1 can;
- Instant coffee – 2 tbsp;
- Vanilla sugar – 1 tsp.
How to make Baileys:
- Mix the cream with milk, beat in a blender or use a mixer.
- While whisking the mixture, add sugar, coffee and whiskey.
- Pour into bottles and cap.
- Let the drink mature for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
Composition of Belis liqueur
Belis white liqueur
RA Bailey & Co, located in Dublin, uses only natural ingredients to prepare the drink.
The milk that serves as the basis for the cream is purchased not from third-party suppliers, but from our own cows, which are fed the healthiest plant foods.
Delicious cream, elite Irish whiskey, high-quality Irish alcohol are seasoned with special, “natural” additives, giving the liqueur an unearthly taste that is akin to a bright fireworks display of taste effects and sounds.
The recipe and production technology of Belize are kept behind “seven locks”, so it is almost impossible to prepare a second drink like this.
And even if you manage to collect all the necessary ingredients, the taste of your liqueur will not be identical to the taste of real Belis.
Attention! Belis does not contain preservatives, so it can boast the longest shelf life - from 18 to 30 months.
The famous Irish Cream Nectar includes triple distilled whiskey, fresh cream, as well as caramel, vegetable oil, vanilla and cocoa.
Depending on the species, mint, chocolate, and coffee may also be present.
It is almost impossible to describe the full palette of taste of Belize.
Taste pleasure begins with light creamy notes that literally melt on the tongue and smoothly flow into the hop-malt solo of the whiskey, which in turn slowly turns into a chocolate-vanilla sound - tender, airy, enveloping.
The relay of taste emotions ends with a long, velvety aftertaste with the presence of hints of cocoa, caramel and cream, complemented by a soft, barely noticeable bitterness.
How to drink correctly and what to drink Baileys liqueur with
There are several ways to consume cream liqueur, including homemade Baileys.
The drink is often consumed in its pure form; its low strength allows this to be done. To do this, use special small liqueur glasses with a volume of 25-50 ml. Savor the drink after eating, adding a couple of pieces of ice to cool it down.
But mostly Baileys is drunk as part of various cocktails or diluted with strong alcohol: vodka, rum, brandy or whiskey.
The drink goes well with unsweetened black coffee and hot chocolate.
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We figured out how to drink Baileys, and what is the customary snack for the creamy alcohol itself? Sweet desserts most often play the role of appetizers. Sweet fruits, ice cream, chocolate, nuts, cookies, fruit salads are suitable.
How many degrees do different types of liqueurs have?
Modern specialized alcohol boutiques are able to provide their clients with an impressive variety of liqueurs of various strengths, from 15 to 70% and higher.
Such a wide variety of degrees allows you to choose the ideal alcoholic accompaniments for tasting in pure form, as well as for selling a large number of cocktails.
At the same time, in order to ideally select drinks for certain tasting evenings, you must have a perfect understanding of their types:
- Amaretto. Italian alcohol, which is often bottled in square bottles. It has a delicate flavor of almonds or bird cherry. Its degree measure ranges from 21 to 28%, and these drinks are often used to create a large number of confectionery products.
- Benedictine. French alcohol based on beets, honey and a large amount of herbs and seasonings. Its alcohol component is 40%.
- Chartreuse. An original product whose strength, depending on the recipe and degree of aging, can vary from 40 to 71 degrees. Initially, it was often used in medicine instead of alcohol.
- Curacao. Dutch alcohol with 30% alcohol content. In its structure, the dominant position is given to dried orange peels.
- Cointreau. Another drink that is made from oranges, but at the same time has an attractive colorful aroma based on a floral-fruity spice. The degree measure of the product is 40%
- Drambuie. The product is based on Scotch whiskey, which allows the finished product to reach a strength of 40%. People often try to drink this alcohol neat and well-chilled.
- Frangelico. A unique assemblage with a nut and berry flavor. The percentage of representatives of this segment does not exceed 28%. They are usually added to a wide variety of dishes to enhance the taste.
- Grand Marnier. In this product you will find the most delicate combination of cognac and orange. The alcohol content of the product is 40%; it is the most popular liqueur option for creating Margarita and B-52 cocktails.
- Galliano. A bright representative of sunny Italy with 30% alcohol. The basis of alcohol is berries and more than 30 types of different herbs.
- Jägermeister. One of the most popular alcoholic products in the world. It is the hallmark of Germany. At its core you will find more than 56 components, which together allow you to achieve a strength of 35%.
- Sambuca. Club drink with a degree measure of 42%. It was originally created to treat various ailments, but today not a single party can do without it.
- Kahlua. Mexican alcohol made from coffee beans. The percentage of segment representatives can vary from 20 to 36%.
- Maraschino. Refined Croatian alcohol with an almond-berry base and an alcohol content of 32%. Usually drunk neat with fruit salads.
- Mandarin. The French alcohol is based on cognac, an infusion of tangerines and 27 different herbs. The alcohol level is 40%.
- Baileys and Sheridans. One of the most popular drinks in the world with an alcohol content of 17-18 degrees. Both products are created in Ireland and rightly delight the taster with a delicate, enveloping flavor.
- Advocate. A Dutch product with a creamy structure and a strength of 15 degrees. The base is brandy, sugar and egg yolks.
In order for the alcohol you buy in a store to acquire certain organoleptic characteristics, as well as the appropriate degree measure, manufacturers pay enormous attention to the procedure for creating products. So, for example, the strength of the drink is seriously affected by:
- Compound. The presence of certain ingredients can both lower and increase the degree measure of the product. The structure of each product is the finest calculation of experienced professionals.
- Recipe. The best representatives of the segment are manufactured according to proprietary proportions, which are kept in the strictest confidence. These indicators can influence not only the taste ambitions of the product, but also its strength.
- Cooking principles. Most manufacturers in the process of creating their drinks use certain methods of processing ingredients, which can significantly change not only the taste, but also the strength of the product.
Did you know? Most of the most popular herbal liqueurs were originally created for medical purposes. That is, previously they actively treated people.
A detailed study of the degree measure of popular alcoholic products should be accompanied by direct examples of products.
That is, in order to make a quick and deliberate choice in favor of a particular product, it is advisable for the consumer to know which products have which properties.
Next, we bring to your attention a simple table that shows examples of popular drinks depending on their degree measure.
Popular cocktails with Baileys
There are dozens of cocktails with Baileys liqueur. Among them, it is worth highlighting five main drinks that can be found in any bar.
At 52
Components:
- Creamy Baileys – 20 ml;
- Coffee Kahlua – 20 ml;
- Orange liqueur Grand Marnier – 20 ml;
How to cook:
- First layer of Kahlua.
- Then, using a cocktail spoon, pour in the second layer of Baileys.
- The last layer is orange liqueur.
- Set the prepared cocktail on fire when serving.
Strawberry cocktail with Baileys
Compound:
- Baileys – 50 ml;
- Champagne brut – 50 ml;
- Fresh strawberries – 100 gr;
- Sugar – 5 gr.
Cooking method:
- Using a mixer, beat the chilled strawberries into a puree. Rub through a fine sieve.
- Using a piping bag, carefully pipe the strawberry puree into a tall champagne glass.
- Using a cocktail spoon, pour in champagne and Baileys.
Cocktail with Baileys Hiroshima
Ingredients:
- Baileys – 20 ml;
- Sambuca – 20 ml;
- Absinthe – 20 ml;
- Grenadine (pomegranate syrup) – 2-3 drops.
Preparation:
- Pour sambuca into a glass.
- Without disturbing the layers, pour in Baileys liqueur, spoon by spoon.
- Finally, pour in absinthe.
- Add grenadine.
Cocktail “Perfect Continuity”.
Components:
- Baileys – 40 ml;
- Cream – 40 ml;
- White rum – 30 ml;
- Caramel syrup – 20 ml;
- Strawberry syrup – 20 ml;
- Strawberries – 3 pcs.;
- Crushed ice – 150 gr.
Preparation:
- Shake all ingredients in a shaker.
- Fill a highball glass with the mixture.
- Decorate with strawberries.
Calorie content and price
One hundred grams of Baileys liqueur contains 327 kilocalories . For comparison, this is slightly less than the same amount of oatmeal, and about the same as 100 grams of cheese or sausage.
The price of a drink can vary significantly depending on the volume of the bottle and the trade markup of a particular store. The cost of a limited edition liqueur may be higher than that of the classic original.
On average, the price for a 0.7 liter bottle of Baileys is just over 1,000 rubles.
Rules of use
Baileys has a specific composition and a very original taste, so when consuming it you should adhere to several rules. How to drink this liqueur correctly? Here are the main recommendations:
- Temperature. Baileys is not cooled before serving - it should be at room temperature (up to 20°C). Exposure to cold or heat of the drink will spoil the taste of the drink. In order to lower its temperature, you can add a few ice cubes to the glass.
- Dishes. Pure Baileys is usually served in small liqueur glasses - 25-30 grams. If you prefer to mix this drink with coffee or add ice to it, then it makes sense to choose larger glasses.
- Submission time . Baileys, like most liqueurs, is served after meals along with desserts. Since its unusual taste only pairs with sweet snacks, it is not practical to use it as a main drink during a meal.
- Compatibility with other drinks . Many people wonder: how to dilute Baileys so as not to spoil it, but to make it less cloying? This liqueur is often added to coffee instead of cream and sugar - it gives the drink a light, refined aroma. This liqueur can also be mixed with vodka or gin - strong alcoholic drinks without a distinct taste. This combination is usually preferred by men: it allows them to make the taste of Baileys less cloying and raise the degree of the drink.