The recipe
for your table
Add the Baileys, coffee liqueur and vodka to the shaker with plenty of ice.
Shake for 10 seconds — short enough to keep the cream from separating, long enough to make everything ice-cold.
Strain into a chilled liqueur glass or over a large ice cube in a tumbler.
Grate some dark chocolate over it and serve immediately.
The story
Baileys was created in Dublin in 1974 as the answer to a practical problem: Ireland had an excess of cream and an excess of whiskey, and no one had ever mixed them. It only worked once they discovered that cream and spirits can be emulsified so they don’t separate — a technical breakthrough that made the product possible. The world’s first cream liqueur immediately became a global hit, and with it a whole family of cocktails: the Mudslide, the B52, Baileys coffee. Fifty years later, it is still the best-selling liqueur in the world.
The right glass
Baileys is sweet and full-bodied, so you drink it in small quantities — and that’s where a large glass isn’t your friend. A liqueur glass of 8 to 13 cl is the right size: enough for a generous pour, small enough to stay cold until the last sip. Choose a stemmed model, so your hand doesn’t warm the liqueur. Making the mixed version over ice? Then use a tumbler. Clear glass works best: that creamy, light amber hue is exactly what you want to see.
RCR Adagio Liqueur Glass 8 cl (6 pieces)
Bormioli Rocco America'20S Liqueur Glass 8 cl Cordinal (6 pieces)
Together € 63,90.
The right tool
For a Baileys cocktail, in addition to the glass, you need a shaker, a jigger for precise measuring, large ice cubes, and a nutmeg grater. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools — together € 92,75.
Variations & twists
Baileys with cold espresso is the quickest good cocktail you can make; with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it becomes a dessert. Whip it into heavy cream to top hot chocolate, or use it as the middle layer in a B52. A splash in Irish Coffee instead of sugar also works excellently. Find more inspiration in all cocktail recipes.
Servingtip
Shake briefly with plenty of ice. Cream and alcohol form an emulsion that breaks apart if you work for too long or at too high a temperature — then you get curdles instead of velvet. Never add citrus: the acidity makes the cream curdle immediately. Serve with one large ice cube instead of small cubes, because dilution is immediately noticeable in a cream liqueur.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Baileys cocktail?
A liqueur glass of 8 to 13 cl for the neat version, a tumbler for the mixed version. View our liqueur glasses.
Why is my Baileys curdling?
Because of acidity or shaking for too long. Never mix it with citrus or tonic, and keep the shake short and ice-cold.
How long does Baileys last?
About two years unopened and six months after opening. Refrigeration is not strictly necessary but is recommended — and then it is ready to serve at the right temperature.
Can you make a Baileys cocktail alcohol-free?
Yes: there are good non-alcoholic Irish cream alternatives, or make your own blend of whole milk, heavy cream, coffee syrup, and cocoa. The texture matters most, not the alcohol.
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