Baileys Red Velvet Cupcake 750ML

Baileys Red Velvet Cupcake 750ML is a flavored Irish cream liqueur bottled at 17% ABV (34 proof) that captures the taste of freshly baked red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. This expression earned a Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, validating its balance of indulgent dessert flavor and smooth Irish whiskey backbone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17%  |  Origin: Ireland  |  Style: Flavored Irish Cream Liqueur  |  Producer: Diageo (Baileys)

Production & Heritage

Baileys is produced by Diageo at facilities on Nangor Road in Dublin, Ireland, and in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. The base recipe blends fresh Irish dairy cream with whiskey sourced from several Irish distilleries, using a proprietary homogenization process that prevents the cream and spirit from separating. The Red Velvet Cupcake expression was developed in collaboration with Georgetown Cupcake founders Katherine Berman and Sophie LaMontagne, specifically engineered to replicate their bakery's best-selling red velvet cupcake — incorporating a proprietary cocoa extract alongside herbs, sugar, and other closely guarded ingredients.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Freshly baked red velvet cake leads, followed by sweet cream and buttery icing. A subtle cocoa undertone lingers beneath the dominant bakery sweetness.

Taste: The entry is rich with fresh chocolate cake flavors that transition quickly into a mid-palate dominated by cream cheese frosting. A gentle warmth from the Irish whiskey emerges at the peak, grounding the sweetness with a light cocoa powder accent and a chocolate cheesecake richness.

Finish: Medium in length with a velvety texture, the finish carries lingering notes of sweet Irish whiskey and soft cocoa. The cream cheese character fades gradually, leaving a clean dessert-like impression.

How to Drink Baileys Red Velvet

Served chilled over ice, this liqueur delivers its red velvet character most clearly, though it also shines as a dessert cocktail ingredient. A Red Velvet Martini — shaken with vanilla vodka — amplifies the cake-like quality. A Red Velvet White Russian substitutes Baileys Red Velvet for traditional cream, adding cocoa depth to the classic template. Stirred into hot chocolate for a Red Velvet Hot Cocoa, the cream cheese frosting notes complement the warm cocoa base naturally.

Best For

• Dessert course pairing at dinner parties
• Holiday gifting for fans of flavored liqueurs and sweet cocktails
• After-dinner sipping as a standalone dessert alternative
• Brunch cocktail mixing for special celebrations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Baileys Red Velvet taste like? Baileys Red Velvet tastes like fresh chocolate cake layered with cream cheese frosting and a hint of cocoa powder, all carried by the smooth warmth of Irish whiskey and dairy cream.

How does Baileys Red Velvet compare to Baileys Original? Baileys Original focuses on a straightforward blend of Irish cream, whiskey, and cocoa, while Red Velvet introduces a distinctly bakery-forward profile with pronounced cream cheese frosting and cake batter notes at the same 17% ABV.

Is Baileys Red Velvet good for cocktails? Its bold dessert flavor profile makes it an excellent cocktail ingredient, particularly in creamy, indulgent drinks like martinis, white Russians, and spiked hot chocolates where its sweetness works as a feature rather than background.

Where is Baileys Red Velvet made? Baileys Red Velvet is produced in Ireland by Diageo, with production facilities located on Nangor Road in Dublin and in Mallusk, Northern Ireland.

What foods pair well with Baileys Red Velvet? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa notes without overwhelming the cream. Vanilla cheesecake mirrors the cream cheese frosting element. Fresh strawberries provide a tart contrast to the sweetness. Shortbread cookies echo the buttery baked character. Tiramisu creates a layered dessert-on-dessert pairing that highlights the whiskey warmth.

What sizes does Baileys Red Velvet come in? Baileys Red Velvet Cupcake is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Baileys Red Velvet worth the price? Positioned as a flavored extension within the Baileys range, it sits in an accessible price tier for cream liqueurs and delivers a distinctively specific flavor profile — validated by its Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — that justifies its place alongside similarly priced flavored liqueurs.

Why Baileys Red Velvet?

The collaboration with Georgetown Cupcake's founders gives this expression a specificity that most flavored liqueurs lack — it was designed to replicate an actual recipe, not just approximate a generic flavor category. That precision earned it a Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the industry's most competitive evaluations. Built on the same Irish cream and whiskey foundation that has defined Baileys since its inception, Red Velvet layers authentic bakery character over a proven base. For anyone seeking a cream liqueur that delivers genuine dessert complexity rather than simple sweetness, this expression stands apart in its category.