Baileys Irish Cream
Ireland
Irish whiskey, cream, sugar, cocoa, and emulsifiers. ~19g of sugar per 50ml shot. Dairy fat slows alcohol absorption slightly, and also delays the sugar crash.
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- Very High
- Additives
- Very High
In its favor
- ✓Cream slows alcohol absorption
- ✓Lower ABV
What to watch
- !Very high sugar
- !Dairy and emulsifiers
- !Whiskey base contributes some gluten
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very High ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very High ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Baileys is dessert in a glass. The fat content masks the alcohol; the sugar content delivers the hangover.
Baileys Irish Cream questions
Is Baileys Irish Cream gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Baileys Irish Cream is not labelled gluten-free, so coeliacs should check with the producer before drinking it.
What proof is Baileys Irish Cream? ▾
Baileys Irish Cream is 34 proof, which is 17% alcohol by volume.
Does Baileys Irish Cream give you a bad hangover? ▾
Baileys Irish Cream scores 7/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for liqueur overall. The main drivers are its sugar and additives.