How long does Baileys last?
How long will the bottle stay fresh while it’s still sealed? How long will it keep after it’s opened? Does it need to be refrigerated?
The rough consensus on cream liqueurs is that they’re good for about 2 years unopened, and about 6 months after opening. Open bottles should be refrigerated.
This however is not always the case — especially for the biggest brand of the bunch — so here’s the full rundown on shelf life (sealed and opened) from three of the major cream liqueur offerings on the market in Goa.
Baileys Irish Cream – Baileys is guaranteed for a shelf life of 2 years from the day it is bottled — whether it is opened or unopened, refrigerated or not. You will find this date on the bottom left side of the back label. Per Baileys: “Code 11 20XY would mean that we guarantee the product would taste perfect until November20XY (XY is the year 2 years from the date of manufacture).”
Kahlua – Even though Kahlua contains no dairy or cream products and effectively does not spoil. It’s conventional wisdom that the flavor in Kahlua and other coffee liqueurs begins to fade after 4 years (opened or not).
Voodoo – VOODOO Cream Liqueur is the first Indian cream liqueur, made from fresh Indian cow cream, whisky & other Italian ingredients. Company says it has a shelf life of 2 years.
Goa market price: Bailey’s MRP 2120, Kahlua MRP 2200 and Voodoo MRP 1250 (2021 price)