There’s nothing quite like a glass of Bailey’s with ice around Christmas time to get you in the spirit (no pun intended), wrapped up by the fire while it’s snowing outside and waiting for Father Christmas to arrive.
This popular cream liqueur is enjoyed by many around the world thanks to its creamy texture and distinct taste, but how much alcohol is in Bailey’s?
Understanding the alcohol content of Bailey’s is important so that you know how many drinks you can have responsibly without officially ruining Christmas.
Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun. Family members judging you while you’re seeing three Christmas trees and five turkeys.
So today, we’re going to take deep dive into the alcohol content of this delicious drink, so if this question has ever crossed your mind, you’re in the right place.
How Much Alcohol Is In Baileys?
Bailey’s Irish Cream is a tasty liqueur with an alcohol content of 17% by volume (ABV), this means that for every 100 milliliters of Bailey’s, there is 17ml of pure alcohol or 0.6 fluid ounces or alcohol per 1.4 fluid ounces of Bailey’s.
This is relatively low in alcohol content when compared to other spirits such as rum, whiskey, or vodka which often have an ABV of 40% depending on the brand.
That said, it’s still higher in alcohol content than beer (4-5%) and wine (5-16%), so it’s important to drink Bailey’s in moderation and know your limits.
Bailey’s also includes calorie-dense ingredients such as milk and cream which can give you that nice satisfied and comfortable feeling as opposed to feeling jittery.
But these ingredients decrease the strength of the alcohol, meaning you may need to drink more Bailey’s if you are to keep up with family members that are drinking other spirits.
>> Read more: how much alcohol is in a Jager bomb?
Is Baileys A Strong Drink?
While Bailey’s isn’t a particularly strong drink in comparison to other spirits, it can still get you drunk relatively quickly due to its delicious taste that has you coming back for more.
The danger of drinking tasty alcohol like Bailey’s is that it can easily be over-consumed as it doesn’t have that strong alcoholic kick you find with many other spirits.
All of a sudden you find that you’ve had five or six glasses without realizing it, so it’s important to be mindful of this and always drink Bailey’s in moderation.
With regards to strength, Bailey’s is considered a mild alcoholic drink, but drinking too much can easily result in becoming intoxicated and experiencing adverse health effects, especially when consumed in large quantities.
It’s just slightly stronger than most wines, which means most people can enjoy a couple of glasses before they start feeling woozy.
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How Much Alcohol Is There In A Shot Of Baileys?
A typical shot of Bailey’s is 1.5 fluid ounces, which is equivalent to 44.3ml. Given that Bailey’s has a 17% ABV, this means one shot of Bailey’s contains approximately 0.25 fluid ounces of alcohol.
It’s certainly not a shot of tequila in terms of strength, but it’s enough that after a handful of shots, you will likely start feeling the effects of the alcohol.
Bodyweight, age, food in the stomach, among other factors can play a role in how alcohol affects a person, so keep this in mind before you go guzzling Bailey’s thinking it’s a weak drink.
For most people, it will take around 4 – 8 shots of Bailey’s before they start feeling the effects, but as mentioned this depends on a wide range of factors.
>> Read more: Can you mix rum and tequila?
Can Baileys Get You Drunk?
Whilst it’s true that the alcohol content in Bailey’s is lower than other spirits, it still does have an alcohol content of 17% ABV and is more than capable of getting you drunk.
The effects of alcohol vary from person to person, but over a long enough time period and after a number of drinks, Bailey’s will start to intoxicate a person and make them drunk.
Not only that but Bailey’s contains a lot of sugar which can start to make the drinker light-headed and give them a sugar rush if they drink too much.
It’s not a good combination and may leave the drinker with a nasty hangover in the morning, so take it easy on the Bailey’s.
Can You Drink Baileys Neat?
Yes, you can drink Bailey’s neat, which means pouring it straight from the bottle into the glass without adding any other ingredients or ice.
However, Bailey’s is often enjoyed with ice or as part of a hot coffee or hot chocolate, or if you’re feeling really adventurous even used as a topping on top of ice cream.
Due to the texture and flavor of Bailey’s, it’s enjoyed in a variety of ways, so whether you drink it neat or pair it with a pint of Guinness, you’ll still enjoy this wonderful drink.
>> Read more: Can you mix Baileys with milk?
Wrapping Up
In closing, Bailey’s is considered a mildly alcoholic drink that contains 17% ABV, making it just stronger than most wines but weaker than the likes of rum, whiskey, and vodka.
It’s a drink that is incredibly versatile and is enjoyed in a number of ways, but whether you’re enjoying Bailey’s as part of Christmas celebrations or a nightcap to help send you off to sleep, always drink in moderation.
The ingredients used in this liqueur make it taste delicious, but the effects of the alcohol can creep up on you and leave you drunker than expected.
Hopefully, this post has provided all the information you needed about the alcohol contents of Bailey’s and a rough guide to how it can be enjoyed responsibly.
See you in the next one.