Should You Refrigerate Baileys?

Whether you like to drink your Baileys chilled and served on ice or mixed into hot coffee, the sweet, creamy liqueur is a signature beverage enjoyed by multiple generations. Made with real Irish milk, the cream liquor often ends up in the refrigerator. But is that where it belongs? According to the Baileys website, every year 200 million liters of milk are used to produce the cream used in the liqueur. For its production, the milk mostly comes from small, family-owned farms in Ireland. Since Baileys first entered the market in the 1970s, dozens of other copycats have joined it on the shelves. Additionally, Baileys has introduced other flavors, such as Almande, Salted Caramel, Espresso Crème, and Red Velvet.

However, you don't even need to buy a premade bottle of Irish cream liquor if you find yourself unable to get to the store. According to the Cocktail Society, to make the drink at home, mix five parts cream, four parts whiskey, one part sugar, and one part flavoring. In addition to liquor and cream, Irish cream is made with sugar, cocoa, vanilla flavorings, and a little coffee.  Once made, Irish cream generally has an alcohol content ranging from 15% to 20% and about 140 calories in a 1.5-ounce serving, per Cocktail Society.

After you have cracked open your bottle of Baileys, do you need to find a spot for it in your already overcrowded refrigerator? No, per Baileys. The liquor maker states that a bottle of Baileys needs to be kept in a place that can range in temperature from 32 degrees F to 77 degrees F. It also should not be placed where it is directly in the sun. But, with all of the cream in the bottle, you may wonder how can that be.

You can thank alcohol for that. According to Simply Called Food, it acts as a preservative. Whether or not it has been opened, a bottle of Baileys lasts for two years. It's best to keep the bottle of Baileys away from direct sunlight, per The Rusty Spoon, because temperatures over 77 degrees F can change its consistency. Even though Baileys doesn't need to be refrigerated, it will eventually go bad. To tell if it's no longer good to drink, Simply Called Food advises analyzing its smell and texture for changes. Does it smell differently or has its consistency changed? If so, it's best not to drink it. Simply Called Food doesn't recommend freezing Baileys because it will make it hard to pour. If placed in the freezer, the alcohol in the Baileys will not freeze, but the cream will. 

So go ahead and open a bottle of Baileys and enjoy now and later.