Baileys. Still Irish.

Ahh Baileys...

First launched in Ireland 1974 - and brought to the US soon afterwards, as a young pup - I remember the women in my family drinking it for no other reason than it was "Irish".

But unfortunately, it's lost much of its "Irishness" along the way...using hipster marketing to make the  metamorphosis from "a taste of the  Emerald Isle", to hip lounge/club drink.

Once labeled:

Original Irish Cream

Baileys is now labeled (more or less):

The Original Irish Cream

 

I'm here to bring back the Irish, mofo.

Essential to Politically Incorrect Drinks

An integral component in an Irish Car Bomb*, it mixes equally well with most harder liquors, but it's also good on it's own - slightly chilled or over ice. And yes, you can look manly drinking Baileys. Just take the umbrella out.

Essential to Ireland's Dairy Economy

Baileys keeps a number of Irish farmers (and cows) employed - with over 40,000 cows supplying the daily milk requirement. 50 million gallons of milk are used annually to produce the cream for Baileys - this accounts for 4.3% of Ireland’s total annual milk production.

I've never been able to squeeze the formula out of Diageo, so I can't tell you exactly how much whiskey is in each bottle - the exact method by which Baileys is produced is a closely guarded secret. I do know that they use imported vanilla and cocoa, and all of the ingredients used to make Baileys are 100% natural.

Essential to the Bottom Line

The United States is the brand’s top market, and today accounts for nearly 30% of total volume for Baileys world-wide.  Following the U.S., the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Global Duty Free, Italy, Canada, Australia, France and Ireland round out the top 10 markets globally for Baileys.

Since its introduction, more than 100 cream liqueurs (not all of them Irish) have been introduced to the world. None have been able to displace Baileys as the world's #1 liqueur brand. Baileys is also the 7th largest spirit, by volume, in the world.

Essential Extension

For 32 years the company avoided the messy world of brand extension, but in 2006, Baileys finally launched two new flavors: Baileys Caramel and Baileys Mint - extending the flavor pallet for mixologists everywhere.

Essentially Irish

And yes, Baileys is really produced in Ireland. Baileys primary production facility is located right outside of Dublin. In order to keep pace with the growing global demand for Baileys, a second production facility was completed (September, 2003) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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Irish Car Bomb*

Ingredients:
1/2 pint Guinness stout
Bailey's Irish cream
Irish Whiskey (traditionally Jameson, but if you use Bushmill's, you make it a Diageo brand Trifecta)

Mixing instructions:
Combine the Bailey's and Whiskey in equal amounts in a shot glass.
Drop shot glass into beer.
Drink immediately.

OHHH yes, you know I made sure that I had Irish Car Bombs while in Derry (on my recent trip to Northern Ireland). The bartender was a little confused by the name, but happy to make them for us. The Irish girls loved them.

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Some additional recipes...I mean, if you're going to buy a bottle you might as well develop a repertoire...

Irish Eyes

Ingredients:
1 oz of Baileys Caramel
1.5 oz Apricot Liqueur

Peppermint St. Patty’s

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Baileys Mint Chocolate
.5 Peppermint Schnapps
1.5 Crème de Cacao Dark
3 oz. Cream