What can I use instead of Baileys Irish Cream? The best substitutes for Baileys Irish Cream are similar Irish cream liqueurs. You can replace Baileys with Emmets, Saint Brendan’s, Ryan’s, Carolans, and Five Farms Irish Cream. In addition, the Whistler Irish Cream is a higher ABV alternative, whereas Baileys Almond is a dairy-free option.
Baileys Irish Cream is the world’s best-selling cream liqueur. It is made with a rich blend of Irish whiskey, fine spirits, Irish dairy cream, and a hint of chocolate and vanilla. Baileys Irish Cream can be enjoyed on the rocks, swirled into coffee and cocktails, or used in desserts. Here are the best alternatives to Baileys Irish Cream.
The Best Baileys Irish Cream Alternatives
Emmets Classic Cream
Emmets Classic Cream is an Irish-made cream liqueur made from a blend of Irish spirits and cream and infused with cocoa beans and vanilla.
Emmets’ flavors are similar to the original Baileys. However, it is less creamy and has a thinner consistency.
Enjoy Emmets Classic Cream straight, on ice, in coffee, cocktails, or a boozy ice cream Sunday. My personal favorite is to swirl Emmets into a mug of hot chocolate topped with extra whipped cream. Yum!
With 17% ABV, Emmets Irish Cream and Baileys Irish Cream have the same alcohol content. So, you can follow a 1:1 ratio when substituting Baileys with Emmets.
Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream
Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream liqueur is made with award-winning, tripled-distilled The Quiet Man whiskey and cream from local dairy farms.
Saint Brendan’s has pleasant vanilla and cocoa notes with a mild whiskey afterburn.
This comforting liqueur can be a budget-friendly replacement for Baileys Irish Cream.
Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream liqueur is perfect for a chocolate or espresso martini. However, you can also pour it into an iced coffee or sip it clean.
Brendan’s Irish Cream liqueur and Baileys Irish Cream both have a 17% ABV. So, you can follow a 1:1 ratio when substituting Baileys with Brendan’s Irish Cream.
Ryan’s Irish Cream
Ryan’s Irish Cream liqueur is a Baileys Irish Cream replacement that won’t break the bank.
Ryan’s Irish Cream consists of imported Irish whiskey infused with dairy-fresh cream, rich chocolate, and vanilla. It isn’t quite as velvety as Baileys but offers delicious vanilla and rich chocolate flavors.
Enjoy Ryan’s Irish Cream on the rocks in hot or iced coffee, or mix it into a mudslide or Irish white Russian cocktail.
With 17% ABV, Ryan’s Irish Cream and Baileys Irish Cream have the same alcohol content. Therefore, you can follow a 1:1 ratio when substituting Baileys with Ryan’s.
Carolans Irish Cream
Crafted a few years of Bailey’s, Carolans Irish Cream liqueur is a popular substitute for Baileys. However, it sets itself apart by infusing honey into Irish whiskey and farm-fresh cream.
Carolans Irish Cream boasts sweet honey flavors rather than dominant chocolate notes. As a result, it is the perfect complement to whiskey cocktails. You can also sip it neat or add it to coffee and desserts.
Carolans and Baileys both have a 17% ABV. So, you can follow a 1:1 ratio when substituting Baileys with Carolans Irish Cream.
However, remember that Carolans is slightly sweeter and has a more prominent honey taste than cocoa. So, it may alter the flavor of your recipes.
The Whistler Irish Cream
The Whistler Irish Cream is 38 proof, making it one of the Irish Cream liqueurs with the highest alcohol content.
The brand prides itself in being the first to use single-pot still Irish whiskey, adding sweet and spicy notes.
The Whistler lends prominent caramel flavors, followed by hints of vanilla and chocolate. It also offers a luscious, supple feel in the mouth with a slight whiskey burn, making it a perfect sipping liqueur.
The Whistler Irish Cream has a similar price tag to Baileys Irish Cream but has a 3% higher ABV. So, despite its 20% AVB, you can use The Whistlers and Baileys interchangeably.
Five Farms Irish Cream
Five Farms Irish Cream is a splurge-worthy cream liqueur bought in a crafty milk bottle.
Five Farms combine premium triple-distilled Irish whiskey with cream sourced from, you guessed it, five Country Cork family-owned farms.
Five Farms Irish Cream is the ideal dessert drink, lending crème caramel and butterscotch flavors with light chocolate Irish Whiskey and espresso notes.
Five Farms Irish Cream and Baileys both have a 17% ABV. So, you can follow a 1:1 ratio when substituting Baileys with Five Farms.
Baileys Almond
Baileys Almond is a dairy-free option made with almond milk and vanilla flavoring.
It tastes pretty different from the original Baileys but retains the true essence. Baileys Almond is creamy yet lighter than its full-dairy counterpart.
Baileys Almond is delicious in iced coffee, coffee-based cocktails, desserts, or sipped over ice.
Baileys Almond only has 13% ABV compared to 17% in traditional Baileys Irish Cream. Therefore, you can use Baileys Almond as a vegan-friendly and dairy-free alternative to Baileys.