We often stock up Bailey’s Irish cream during the holidays, but start to wonder “Does Baileys Go Bad” after the holiday is over. As it contains cream, is it going to expire? In this post, all your questions will be answered.
Table of Contents
What is Baileys?
Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish cream liqueur, an alcoholic drink flavoured with cream, cocoa and Irish whiskey. To this day, Baileys is still produced in Ireland at a place called Nangor Road in Dublin itself.
The drink was invented by a man named Tom Jago in 1971. The motivation behind the creation of Baileys was the availability of alcohol from a nearby distillery and the desire to use up surplus cream from a dairy farm. Jago and his team wanted to introduce an alcoholic beverage to the international market that ‘didn’t taste punishing’.
The alcohol content in Bailey’s Irish Cream is about 17% while the cream alongside the Irish whiskey is homogenized.
Does Baileys Go Bad?
The answer is yes, Baileys Irish Cream will eventually go bad. Baileys is a liqueur, and unlike liquors, liqueur doesn’t last forever. It’s not like that ancient bottle of vodka, or gin in your cupboard, because there is dairy in it, it will spoil with age.
The alcohol will keep it fresh for a little bit longer, lengthening the life of Baileys to about 2 years, on average.
Remember this is a best-before date and not an expiry, it’s more like guidelines, so once it has passed the best-before date, be cautious and check the liquid before you drink.
How Can You Tell If Baileys Has Gone Bad?
Well, you will want to do 4 checks:
1. The Look
If it has gone bad or is starting to, then there will start to be a separation between the cream and the whisky, this will make the drink start to look dark.
If it is dark then you are only a little while away from coagulation, so it is best to throw it out now.
2. Smell
If it has gone bad, it might smell a bit like custard, or it may smell sour much like milk would.
Note, that the odor will simply have changed from before.
3. Texture
When Baileys is good, it will be creamy and smooth, half the reason we all love it so much right? Well, if it has expired, it will be the total opposite, it will be thick, lumpy, or congealed.
Its consistency will be totally off. Check it as you would with milk or dessert cream, nothing worse than lumps in something that is not supposed to have lumps.
4. Taste
You know what it is supposed to taste like and if it doesn’t then it’s probably on its way out.
Can you Drink Expired Baileys?
Once Baileys has gone past its best-before date, you can still drink it as it should remain good for a few weeks or maybe even months. Though it may not taste quite as good as before.
On the other hand, if your Bailey’s has not only expired but has curdled, we do not recommend drinking it.
Not only that but it is also likely to make you sick or give you a stomach upset. It won’t do any long-term damage but it will make you feel unwell for a while, so it’s not worth it.
What Will Happen If I Drink Expired Baileys?
If Baileys is curdled, it weirdly does not always mean it has become bad or unsafe to drink. In some cases, the taste and texture will just be unappealing.
If you drink it while it is in this state then you will probably get sick, get a stomach ache, or other digestive problems. Though, it will only be short term and will not be life-threatening, much like if you drink gone of milk or have curled cream.
How Long Does Baileys Last?
How Long Will Unopened Bottle of Baileys Last?
An unopened bottle of Baileys Irish cream will last around 2 years before it starts to spoil. It doesn’t matter if you have stored the liquor correctly, around the 2-year mark the dairy contained within the alcoholic beverage will start to turn and the drink should not be consumed.
How Long Does Baileys Last Once Opened?
The general consensus is that after being opened, Irish cream will last around 6 months before it starts to go bad. Once opened, make sure to store in the fridge despite what the label says.
Should I Store Baileys in the Fridge After Opening?
Due to the cream content, it is recommended to be refrigerated once opened, like with any dairy products it can go bad if inadequately stored.
How to Store Baileys Properly?
- Store away from direct sunlight.
- You should look to store your Baileys in a place where temperature is below 77F degree.
- Follow the manufacturers storage recommendations on the label of the bottle.
- Once open, store in the fridge.
What is Baileys Made From?
There are 6 key ingredients:
- Cream
- Milk
- Irish Whiskey
- Cocoa Extra
- Refined Vegetable Oil
- Herbs & Spices
Things you can mix with Baileys Irish Cream (It won’t curdle):
- 1. Coffee
- Hot Chocolate
- Ice Cream
- English Tea
- Early Grey Tea
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How to Tell If Bailey’s Has Gone Bad (4 Signs)
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Bailey’s
Instructions
The Look
- If it has gone bad or is starting to, then there will start to be a separation between the cream and the whisky, this will make the drink start to look dark.
The Smell
- If it has gone bad, it might smell a bit like custard, or it may smell sour much like milk would.
The Texture
- Its consistency will be totally off. Check it as you would with milk or dessert cream, nothing worse than lumps in something that is not supposed to have lumps.
The Taste
- You know what it is supposed to taste like and if it doesn’t then it’s probably on its way out.
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