2019 Top Ten Irish Cream Liqueurs
A little over 6 years ago we launched Best Tasting Spirits with our first spirit review. That reviewed spirit was Baileys Irish Cream. Since then we have reviewed 68 Irish Cream Liqueurs. I don’t believe anyone has come close to reviewing as many as we have. When it came time to select the Top Ten Irish Cream liqueurs we felt the only way to ensure we selected the best tasting Irish Creams was to sample fresh unopened bottles and review and rank them within a two week period. Because it is unrealistic to taste, compare, and rank 68 different Irish creams in a two week period, we first eliminated Irish Country Creams. Those are the Irish cream liqueurs made with wine instead of Irish whiskey. We than eliminated all of the flavored Irish Cream liqueurs. While all Irish creams are flavored we felt it was best to first find the 10 best tasting Irish creams and at a later date we will taste, rank, and review the top ten “self designated” flavored Irish Cream’s. From there we selected our previously reviewed top Irish creams and the industries best selling Irish creams. Over time some previously reviewed brands are no longer produced, and other brands have changed their formula. One brand Michaels, was one of our previously highest scoring brands but it is only sold in Texas and we were unable to source a bottle. In the end we selected 18. That group includes Baileys, Bradys, Calahans, Carolans, Coole Swan, Dempseys, Emmets, Five Farms, Kavanaugh, Kerrygold, Kirkland, McCleary’s, Merrys, Mollys, Mullins, O’Connery’s, Saint Brendans, and Trader Joes Golden Vale. To help differentiate between the different brands we adjusted our scoring as follows:
87-90 Silver Medal
91-94 Gold Medal
95-100 Double Gold Medal
How serious was I in selecting the Top Ten. First I reviewed each of the 18 over a 4 day period. I did this without looking at our previous reviews so as not to influence these reviews. I then compared brands in groups of 2 and 3 head to head over a 10 day period. When the testing was complete I had not only put a significant dent in each bottle, but I had gained 5 pounds. I guess this is what they call taking one for the team. So how well did each brand perform and who came out on top? Read more
Review: Carolans Salted Caramel
Carolans Salted Caramel was released August 2019. It is the first line extension for Carolans Irish Cream which was first introduced in 1978. Carolans is named for the 17th century harpist Turlough O’Carolan. Unlike the original Carolans which is made with honey, Carolans Salted Caramel is made with farm fresh cream, rich caramel, savory sea salt, and premium Irish spirits. Read more 
Review: Michaels Pumpkin Spice Celtic Irish Cream
Michaels Pumpkin Spice Celtic Irish Cream is one of three varieties of Irish Cream produced under the Michaels label. The other two include Original Michaels and Michaels Salted Caramel. Michaels is one of over a dozen brands of Irish Cream Liqueur produced by Robert A Merry & Co. in Tipperary Ireland. Read more
Review: Dempseys Irish Cream Liqueur
Dempseys Irish Cream Liqueur can be found on the store shelves of your local Kroger Grocery store. It apparently has replace Delaney’s as Kroger’s private label Irish Cream Liqueur brand. Like Delaney’s, Dempsey’s is made in Abbeyleix Ireland by First Ireland Spirits. Very little product information is available about Dempsey’s but it is imported by County Line Distillers, a division of Sazerac. Read more
Review: Baileys Red Velvet Irish Cream
Baileys Red Velvet Irish Cream will soon be arriving at your local liquor stores. It is Baileys newest Limited Edition release. Red Velvet was created in collaboration with Georgetown Cupcake. This is not the first time these two have cooperated. In March of this year Georgetown Cupcake and Baileys collaborated to create a Limited Edition St. Patrick’s Day cupcake they sold at their six stores. Georgetown Cupcakes was featured on the reality show DC Cupcake staring the owners and sisters of Georgetown Cupcake, Sophie and Katherine Kallinis. Red Velvet is their signature cupcake. All six Georgetown Cupcake locations will feature a non-alcohol Baileys Red Velvet Cupcake in November and December. Baileys Red Velvet Irish Cream joins a flavor lineup that includes Original Baileys, Pumpkin Spice, Almande Almond Milk, Strawberries and Cream, Salted Caramel, Espresso Crème, Chocolate Cherry, and Vanilla Cinnamon. Read more
Review: Molly’s Coconut Irish Cream
After a 4 year absence Molly’s Coconut Irish Cream is back for a limited time. It comes back in a new bottle with a new flavor profile. I reviewed Molly’s Coconut almost six years ago and I awarded a Gold Medal. I always get a little nervous when a product I really enjoy changes its flavor. Remember New Coke? In more recent times Butterfinger also changed its flavor. In both cases I liked the previous version better. Fingers crossed that’s not the case here. The first Molly’s Coconut was introduced in 2012, also as a Limited release flavor. The flavor was so popular it was actually produced until 2015 when it’s brand owner Terra decided to focus all of its resources on building its original Molly’s Irish Cream brand. Terra, is the largest family owned cream liqueur producer in Ireland. While Terra produces over a dozen private label brands of cream liqueur, Molly’s is their own flagship brand. Due to popular demand Molly’s Coconut is back, joining the original Molly’s, an Irish cream with a more traditional, natural chocolate flavor. The new Molly’s Coconut is made from fresh Irish dairy cream, aged Irish whiskey, fine Irish spirits and natural coconut flavors. The fresh cream is sourced from a dairy 1 mile from their cream liqueur plant. The fresh cream travels from cow to finished bottle of Molly’s in 48 hours. Read more
Review: Fennellys Cappucino Irish Cream Liqueur
Fennellys Cappucino Irish Cream Liqueur is made by Robert A Merry Company in Clonmel County Tipperary Ireland. Cappucino is one of four varieties of Fennellys I found on the shelf of my local Total WIne and More store. The others include the original Fennellys Irish Cream, Fennellys Peppermint, and Fennellys Mint Chocolate. Fennellys Cappucino Irish Cream Liqueur is made with Irish whiskey, fresh dairy cream, neutral spirits, natural flavors, and caramel color. Read more
Review: O’Donnells Strawberry Cream
O’Donnells Strawberry Cream is produced and bottled by R.A. Merry and Company in County Tipperary Ireland. R.A. Merry creates Irish cream liqueurs and Irish country cream liqueurs for several different brands. They also produce a full line of Merrys Irish Cream Liqueurs for themselves. O’Donnells Strawberry Cream is made from grape wine, cream, neutral spirits, and natural flavor with vegetable juice added for color. O’Donnells is sold exclusively at Aldi Stores. Read more
Review: O’Donnells Caramel Cream
O’Donnells Caramel Cream appears to be an Irish Cream Liqueur but it is made with grape wine, neutral spirits, cream, natural flavor, and caramel color. Because it is made from grape wine and not Irish Whiskey, O’Donnells by definition is an Irish Country Cream. O’Donnells Caramel Cream is produced by R.A. Merry and Company in County Tipperary, Ireland. O’Donnells is sold exclusively at Aldi Stores. I have seen several different varieties of O’Donnells at different Aldi locations, at different times of the year. Read more
Review: Trader Joes Golden Vale Irish Cream Liqueur
Trader Joes Golden Vale Irish Cream Liqueur was recently released. As Trader Joe’s continues to add store locations their private label liquor brands increase. When the leaves start to fall in the upper half of the US we enter the peak season for Irish cream liqueurs. Golden Vale is presumable named for the Golden Vale area of Southwest Ireland, often referred to as the best land in Ireland for dairy farming. Golden Vale is imported by Universal Brands in Princeton Minnesota. I have not located a Universal Brands or Golden Vale web address, and Golden Vale Irish Cream Liqueur does not have a presence on the Trader Joe’s website. The only available information is the bottles label that reads Golden Vale is an artful blend of Irish Whiskey and rich dairy cream. My guess is grain spirits, natural flavors, and caramel color have also been added. Universal Brands has an existing relationship with Robert A Merry & Co. as they produce several other Irish cream liqueurs including Mullins Irish Cream for them. My guess is that is who produces Golden Vale Irish Cream Liqueur. Read more