The Best Cream Liqueurs: Baileys, RumChata, Bourbon Cream and the Bottles Worth Gifting
Cream liqueur is the most-gifted bottle on our shelf from Thanksgiving to New Year's, and most people grab Baileys by default. Baileys is great, but it isn't the only answer. The spirit underneath matters: Irish whiskey, rum, bourbon and tequila each make a very different cream. We sort the category by base spirit, then by how you plan to drink it. Every bottle below ships nationwide.
In This Guide
Our Picks at a Glance
- Best cream liqueur overall: Baileys Original Irish Cream. The benchmark, and still the one most people want.
- Best premium Irish cream: Five Farms Single Batch. Fresh County Cork cream and noticeably more whiskey.
- Best cream liqueur for coffee: Baileys, or Baileys Espresso Crème for a double hit of coffee.
- Best bourbon cream: Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream. Vanilla, caramel and real Kentucky bourbon.
- Best for dessert and holiday baking: RumChata. Cinnamon and vanilla, like horchata with a kick.
- Best tequila cream: Tequila Rose. Strawberries and cream, pink in the glass.
- Best Chicago-area pick: Sōmrus Chai Cream, from an Illinois-based company, made with Wisconsin cream.
- Best cream liqueur under $20: Carolans, with a touch of honey.
- Best gift for a bourbon lover: Headframe Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream from Butte, Montana.
The Best Cream Liqueurs, Compared
ABV is the producer's published US strength. Price tiers are for a 750ml bottle; the product page always has today's price.
| Bottle | Base / Region | ABV | Flavor | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baileys Original | Irish whiskey, Ireland | 17% | Cocoa, vanilla, cream | Under $25 | Coffee, on ice, gifting |
| Five Farms Single Batch | Irish whiskey, Co. Cork | 17% | Fresh cream, more whiskey | Under $25 | Sipping, upgrade gift |
| Carolans | Irish whiskey, Ireland | 17% | Honey, caramel | Under $20 | Coffee, value |
| Emmets | Irish whiskey, Ireland | 17% | Vanilla, light cocoa | Under $25 | Everyday Irish cream |
| RumChata | Caribbean rum, Wisconsin | 13.75% | Cinnamon, vanilla | Under $25 | Dessert, cereal milk, holiday |
| Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream | Bourbon, Kentucky | 15% | Vanilla, caramel, oak | Under $20 | Coffee, root beer float |
| Orphan Girl | Bourbon, Montana | 17% | Caramel, vanilla, bourbon | Under $30 | Sipping, gifting |
| Jackson Morgan Southern Cream | Tennessee whiskey | 15% | Flavored creams | Under $25 | Dessert drinks |
| Tequila Rose | Tequila, Missouri | 15% | Strawberry, cream | Under $25 | Shots, milkshakes |
| Sōmrus Chai Cream | Caribbean rum, Illinois | 13.5% | Chai spice, cardamom | Under $25 | Chai, holiday |
| Mozart Chocolate Cream | Chocolate, Austria | 17% | Milk chocolate | Under $30 | Hot chocolate, dessert |
| Amarula Fruit Cream | Marula fruit, South Africa | 17% | Caramel, tropical fruit | Under $25 | On ice |
Best Irish Cream
Irish cream is Irish whiskey blended with dairy cream, sugar and flavorings like cocoa and vanilla. It's the original style and still the best seller. The differences come down to how much whiskey you taste and how sweet the finish is.
The first Irish cream on the market and still the reference point. Cocoa, vanilla and a soft whiskey warmth with a thick, silky body. It's the best cream liqueur for coffee because it doesn't curdle easily and the cocoa note plays well with a dark roast. It's the one most customers ask for by name, and the 1.75L is the move for holiday hosting.
The bottle we hand to people who say Baileys is too sweet. Fresh cream from five family farms in County Cork is blended with triple-distilled Irish whiskey shortly after collection, and you can taste more whiskey than in most Irish creams. Richer, fresher and less cloying. Sip it over ice.
Irish whiskey, cream and a touch of honey, which gives it a lighter, caramel-sweet finish. At this price it's the smartest Irish cream for a crowd or a coffee bar.
Baileys Espresso Crème adds real coffee and is great in a creamy Espresso Martini. Salted Caramel and Chocolate are dessert in a glass. For the fridge door, the Baileys 3-pack of 100ml bottles makes an easy stocking stuffer.
Best Rum and Bourbon Cream Liqueurs
Swap the Irish whiskey for rum or bourbon and the whole profile shifts. Rum creams lean spiced and sweet. Bourbon creams bring vanilla, caramel and toasted oak, which is why they're our favorite cream liqueurs for coffee after Baileys.
Caribbean rum blended with Wisconsin dairy cream, cinnamon and vanilla. It tastes like horchata, and it's the best cream liqueur for dessert drinks: pour it over cereal for the famous "cereal milk" shot, blend it into a milkshake or use it in French toast batter. Lower proof than most, so it's easy to sip on ice. The 1.75L is a holiday-party staple.
Made with real Buffalo Trace bourbon, and you can tell: vanilla, caramel and a little oak under the cream. Our pick for coffee if you're a bourbon drinker, and the secret to a grown-up root beer float. A lot of bottle for the money.
A craft bourbon cream named for Butte's old Orphan Girl silver mine and made in Butte with bourbon and fresh cream. Caramel, vanilla and more bourbon than the big brands, without being too sweet. This is the cream liqueur we suggest as a gift for the whiskey lover who already has everything. Headframe also makes the bourbon-free Snowdrift Sweet Cream.
A Tennessee whiskey cream that comes in dessert flavors. Salted Caramel is the everyday pick, and Peppermint Mocha is the one that flies off the shelf in December.
Want to go deeper on the whiskey side? Our ultimate bourbon guide covers what makes bourbon taste the way it does.
Best Flavored and Tequila Cream Liqueurs
The best-known tequila cream liqueur: strawberry, cream and a light agave note, pink in the glass. It's a party shot, a milkshake upgrade and a fun gift. Pour it chilled; it's sweet enough that most people don't sip it neat for long.
A local favorite. Sōmrus is an Illinois company that blends Caribbean rum with Wisconsin dairy cream and Indian spices. The Chai tastes like a spiced, milky masala chai, perfect in hot tea or over ice on a cold night. The Coffee and Mango versions are worth a look too.
A chocolate cream liqueur from Salzburg with a smooth milk chocolate flavor. It's the best chocolate cream liqueur we have tasted for hot chocolate, mudslides or drizzling over vanilla ice cream.
Made from the fruit of the African marula tree, with a caramel, toffee and gentle tropical note. Smooth and very easy over ice. A good pick for someone who already owns a bottle of Baileys.
Best Value Cream Liqueurs
Making a big batch of spiked hot chocolate or a holiday punch? You don't need to pour your best bottle into it. Carolans is our first pick under $20. Below that, Sean's Original Irish Cream and Ryan's Irish Cream are both under $15 and perfectly good for mixing. Holiday eggnog fans should also look at Evan Williams Egg Nog, which is ready to pour straight from the fridge.
Cream Liqueur Styles Explained
How cream liqueur is made
Dairy cream and a spirit don't naturally mix, so producers blend them with an emulsifier that keeps the alcohol and fat bound together. The alcohol and sugar help preserve the cream, which is why a sealed bottle can sit on a shelf. Most cream liqueurs land between 13% and 17% ABV.
Irish cream
Irish whiskey plus cream, usually with cocoa and vanilla. Baileys, Five Farms, Carolans and Emmets are all Irish creams.
Rum, bourbon and tequila creams
Same idea, different spirit. Rum creams like RumChata and Sōmrus are spiced and sweet. Bourbon creams carry vanilla and caramel from new oak barrels. Tequila creams are usually flavored, with strawberry the classic.
Non-dairy "cream" liqueurs
Some newer bottles use plant-based or non-dairy bases. The Baileys Cookies and Coffee Toffee releases are labeled non-dairy. Shanky's Whip is a dairy-free Irish whiskey liqueur at 33% ABV that drinks creamy without any cream. Check every label if you have an allergy.
How to Drink Cream Liqueur
- On the rocks: two ounces over a big cube. The classic way to sip Baileys or Five Farms.
- In coffee: one to two ounces in hot coffee, in place of creamer and sugar. Add whipped cream for a treat.
- In hot chocolate: RumChata, Mozart or Baileys Chocolate in a mug of cocoa is the holiday default.
- Over dessert: pour over ice cream, stir into whipped cream or use in tiramisu instead of plain coffee.
- Cocktails: Mudslide, Baileys Espresso Martini, B-52 shot, Irish coffee with a Baileys float, and RumChata in a White Russian twist.
- Milkshakes: a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a splash of milk and two ounces of cream liqueur in the blender.
Not everyone wants something sweet and creamy after a big holiday meal. If your crowd leans the other way, our guide to the best bitter liqueurs covers the amari and digestivos we pour instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cream liqueur?
Baileys Original Irish Cream is the best cream liqueur for most people, especially in coffee. Five Farms is the best premium Irish cream, RumChata is the best for desserts, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream is the best bourbon cream for the money.
What is the best cream liqueur for coffee?
Baileys is the best cream liqueur for coffee because its cocoa note suits dark roast and it holds up well in hot drinks. Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream is our pick for bourbon fans, and Baileys Espresso Crème adds even more coffee flavor.
What is a good alternative to Baileys?
Five Farms is the best Baileys alternative if you want something richer with more whiskey. Carolans is the best budget alternative, and RumChata is the pick if you want a different flavor entirely.
Does Baileys go bad?
Yes, eventually. Baileys says its Irish cream keeps its quality for two years from the date it was made, opened or unopened, when stored at room temperature away from sunlight. If it smells sour, separates or turns lumpy, toss it. Other cream liqueurs vary, so check each label.
Do cream liqueurs need to be refrigerated?
Most cream liqueurs don't need the fridge, but many people keep them there after opening because they taste better cold and it can only help. Store them out of direct sunlight and away from heat either way.
RumChata vs Baileys: what's the difference?
RumChata is rum-based with cinnamon and vanilla, like a boozy horchata, and is a little lower in alcohol (13.75% ABV). Baileys is Irish whiskey-based with cocoa and vanilla at 17% ABV. Baileys is better in coffee; RumChata is better in desserts and with cereal.
Shop Cream Liqueurs at The Liquor Barn
Baileys, RumChata, bourbon creams and local favorites, plus holiday sizes for hosting. Ships nationwide. Family-owned since 1982.
Shop Cream Liqueurs Holiday Gifts All LiqueursThe Liquor Barn operates three retail locations in Vernon Hills, Wheeling, and Niles, Illinois. We are a licensed Illinois retailer and ship to states where direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is permitted. Prices and availability change; the product page always has the current price. Questions about shipping to your state? Contact us here. Please drink responsibly.
