 Carolans brand | |
| Type | Cream liqueur |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ireland |
| Introduced | 1973 |
| Alcohol by volume | 15–20% |
| Proof (US) | 30°–40° |
| Colour | Light brown |
| Flavour | Sweet & creamy |
| Ingredients | Irish whiskey,grain spirit,cream,sugar,caramel,emulsifier,stabiliser |
| Variants | Grain spirit is used in various quantities depending on the brand |
| Related products | Irish coffee |
Irish cream (Irish:uachtar na hÉireann, uachtar Éireannach)[1] is acream liqueur based onIrish whiskey,cream and other flavourings. It typically has analcohol by volume (ABV) level of 15 to 20% and is served on its own or in mixed drinks, most commonly mixed with coffee or in shots such as theB-52 or theBaby Guinness. Its largest markets are theUnited Kingdom,Canada and theUnited States.
Despite its name, it is not a traditional Irish product, as the first version of it,Baileys, was invented in 1973 by British businessmanTom Jago in London, in response to a marketing brief from Gilbeys of Ireland (a division ofInternational Distillers & Vintners).[2] Nevertheless, within the European Union, Irish cream is aprotected geographical indication product that must be produced inIreland.[3]
Top brands of Irish cream includeBaileys,Kerrygold,Carolans andSaint Brendan's.
When wine is used as the alcoholic base instead of whiskey the product is generally known as "Country Cream" rather than Irish cream, and is a winecocktail rather than aliqueur. These products taste similar, but country cream usually has a lower alcohol content and costs less as wine is generally cheaper to purchase as an ingredient than whiskey. The difference in the origin of the alcohol can also create legal differences in some jurisdictions. Australia'sWine equalisation tax makes the taxation of alcohol content derived fromgrapes,apple andpear cheaper than an equivalent alcohol content from the whiskey in Irish cream.[4]
Irish cream is served straight,on the rocks or inmixed drinks, often layered in a shot glass withKahlúa andGrand Marnier to make aB-52 (cocktail) shot, aBaby Guinness, or mixed withcoffee orhot chocolate. It is also a common addition toWhite Russians. Some use Irish cream to flavour desserts and other sweet treats.[5]
