Month: April 2025

If you’re a home mixologist, you probably have a few bottles that are both indispensable and also often overlooked. They’re the kind of spirits, liqueurs, and ingredients that you always have on hand, but you don’t really spend much time thinking about. 

In my almost two decades of writing about alcohol, I’ve learned that while you need a good stable of whiskeys, rums, gins, tequilas, and other spirits, your home bar isn’t complete without things like triple sec, curaçao, benedictine, and of course the highly underrated Irish cream. The latter is what we’re most concerned about today.

Whether you enjoy it as an indulgent, creamy after-dinner drink, mixed into a mug of coffee for a boozy, warming treat, or even poured over vanilla ice cream, Irish cream is a sometimes forgotten but always loved liqueur that deserves a little time in the proverbial sun.

You likely know what Irish cream looks like and even what it tastes like, but what else is there to know about it? The time is right to take a deep dive into this velvety, sweet liqueur. Keep scrolling to learn about how it’s made, its history, and see some of our favorite brands.

What Is Irish Cream?

In the simplest terms, irish cream is a cream liqueur made from a blend of Irish whiskey, cream, and additional ingredients and flavors depending on the brand. It’s known for its slightly boozy, creamy mouthfeel and rich, sweet flavors of vanilla, cream, chocolate, and just a hint of warming Irish whiskey.

While your favorite bottle of Irish whiskey is likely around 40 percent ABV or more, Irish cream is typically much lower. It’s often between 15–17 percent ABV.

Related: This Whiskey Collector Owns 400 Bottles—but His 5 Favorites Might Just Surprise You

How Is Irish Cream made?

There are a few different ways to make Irish cream. The most common way is by distilling and aging Irish whiskey and then combining it with cream. But that’s not the end of the process as that would simply make creamy whiskey without much substance. Irish cream makers add things like sugar, vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, spices, and other added flavors.

How to Make Irish Cream Yourself

If you don’t have a lot of free time, your best bet is purchasing a bottle of Baileys or another popular Irish cream. But if you want to make it yourself, you can. 

First you need a bottle of well-made Irish whiskey. Don’t go too cheap or your end product won’t be as flavorful and complex as you’d like. Next, you’ll need heavy cream, vanilla extract, condensed milk, and cocoa powder.

To make it at home, all you need to do is add the heavy cream and cocoa powder to a bowl and stir until they’re completely combined. Next add, the whiskey, condensed milk, and vanilla extract and stir or blend until everything is evenly combined. 

If it isn’t to your liking, you can add more of any of the ingredients. Like it boozier? Just add more whiskey. Pour it into a bottle or mason jar, add a cap, and put it into your refrigerator until you need it.

Does Irish Cream Need to Be Refrigerated?

When you purchase milk, chances are you tuck it right into your refrigerator when you get home from the market. The same goes for creamer, cheese, butter, and pretty much anything dairy-based. 

Baileys doesn’t require refrigeration, but if you want it to be consistently creamy and flavorful for longer, you should store it in a cold place like the fridge. 

Always check the label on any Irish cream to see if it requires refrigeration. Better yet, just keep it all in the fridge. That way, you’ll be more likely to remember to add some to your weekend cup of coffee.

Best Irish Cream Brands

Now that you’ve learned a little bit about Irish cream, it’s time to find some to add to your home bar. Below, you’ll find three of our favorites. One of the picks is a classic that you definitely already know. The other two are underrated gems that absolutely deserve a spot on your bar cart. Keep scrolling to see them all.

Baileys Irish Cream

No Irish cream list is complete without the including of Baileys. This 17 percent ABV cream liqueur has been crafted for sipping and mixing since 1974. There’s a reason it’s the most well-known Irish cream brand.

The cream, cocoa, and Irish whiskey-based liqueur is known for its flavor profile of vanilla beans, chocolate fudge, nutty sweetness, and whiskey as well as its indulgent, creamy mouthfeel. It’s the perfect addition to a boring cup of coffee or a cocktail like a white Russian. 

Coole Swan Irish Cream

The folks at Coole Swan say that it took 231 attempts to come up with the recipe for this award-winning Irish cream. The perfect combination of whiskey, chocolate, and cream, it’s made in County Cavan, Ireland. 

It’s not messing around. This is some creamy, sweet, and sublime stuff thanks to the use of double cream, Irish whiskey, Madagascan vanilla, and Belgian white chocolate in the recipe. Who wouldn’t want to add a little of this their morning coffee on a cold day?

Five Farms Irish Cream

With a name like Five Farms Irish Cream, you should have a pretty good idea about what you’re in for. This farm-to-table liqueur gets its name because the cream is sourced completely from five family-owned farms in County Cork, Ireland. 

This creamy, flavorful Irish cream is made in single batches using fresh cream within 48 hours of collection and triple distilled Irish whiskey. The highly decorated Irish cream is known for its flavors of vanilla beans, butterscotch, toasted coconuts, and maple candy.

Irish Cream Bottom Line

Don’t let Irish cream get lost in the cocktail shuffle. Buy some or make your own. Mix it into your coffee at an early morning football tailgate on a frigid day. Use it in a white Russian, mudslide, muddy water, or as a rich, creamy after dinner digestif. You won’t regret it.

Related: Make This Cheap and Delicious Four-Ingredient Liqueur to Impress Any Guest

Sydney Sweeney is officially back on the market after it was confirmed that not only is her wedding to Jonathan Davino called off, but their seven-year relationship is over. The 27-year-old actress isn’t hiding from the press though — she made a splash at CinemaCon on April 1.

The Euphoria star stunned on the red carpet, wearing an outfit that resembled a contemporary wedding dress. The silver-white corset and skirt hugged her curves with its form-fitting silhouette. Even though she isn’t walking down the aisle with Davino this spring, she can still own a red carpet looking like a bride.

The former duo’s relationship had been “rocky for a long time,” per People, and Sweeney was ready to put her career in the top position.

“She’s exactly where she wants to be. Most people would feel overwhelmed by her working schedule this year, but not Syd. She’s all about working right now and very excited about all her projects,” the insider shared. “What did make her overwhelmed though was her relationship and her wedding. She didn’t feel right about it.”

Their 14-year age gap might have also contributed to their differences. The media outlet’s source pointed out that “she’s not ready to settle down” because of her career opportunities. In addition to promoting The Housemaid with co-stars Brandon Sklenar and Amanda Seyfried at CinemaCon, Sweeney also has another season of Euphoria ahead and the Christy Martin project.

As for those Glen Powell dating rumors, his mother squashed the story, telling the Daily Mail that the gossip was “silly” because “they’re definitely not together.”

Related: Sydney Sweeney Calls Out Shady Paparazzi Seeking Bikini Photos

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A good-quality duffel bag is about as handy as they come, offering versatility for weekend travel and gym visits. Materials like nylon and canvas can be affordable but solid fabric options, but for the stylish gent, a leather bag is a must. While these bags tend to run well north of a few hundred dollars, if you can find the right deal—like this one from Nordstrom Rack that’s half off—it’s well worth pulling the trigger.

The David King and Co Extra Large Multi-Pocket Leather Duffel Bag is on sale for just $170 right now at Nordstrom Rack, a 50% discount on its normal price of $340. This sleek-looking bag is the perfect choice for weekend travel, and its “rich leather,” as one shopper called it, gives it an elevated look for a timeless appeal. Other shoppers seem to agree, as it has amassed 60 five-star ratings, which is an impressive number at the Rack. It’s available in black, chocolate, and tan, but at this price, the supply might sell through fast.

David King and Co Extra Large Multi-Pocket Leather Duffel Bag in Black, $170 (was $340) at Nordstrom Rack

While it may be called an “extra-large” duffel, this is more appropriately sized as a weekender bag. It has 23-by-12-by-12.5-inch dimensions and an adjustable strap, making it the ideal overnight getaway bag for long weekend trips. It’s crafted using premium soft and supple leather that is perfectly broken-in. The barrel-shaped silhouette gives you ample storage, while it has a zippered pocket on the outside and two separate zippered pockets on the ends of the bag.

“Perfect size—I use it for weekend travel and the gym,” said one shopper. “I can easily fit two pairs of shoes, a toiletry bag, a towel, and a change of clothes with lots of leftover room. I’ve put three full outfits, a toiletry bag, and sneakers along with snacks and a bottle of drink, and it holds up very well. Love the extra side pockets for chargers and medicines, too.”

David King and Co Extra Large Multi-Pocket Leather Duffel Bag in Tan, $170 (was $340) at Nordstrom Rack

“It’s a handsome leather duffel bag, and well made,” said another buyer, noting it’s “a nice bag for a three to four day casual trip.” Another shopper said it’s “sleek and practical,” calling it the “perfect weekend bag” because of its ” deep pockets, and many of them.”

With a phenomenal half-off price on a leather duffel bag, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option. Make sure you don’t miss this opportunity and grab yourself a David King and Co Extra Large Multi-Pocket Leather Duffel Bag before it sells out.

Hailee Steinfeld has her fiancé, NFL star Josh Allen, by her side for support as she does appearances to hype her new movie, Sinners. The couple was spotted at a premiere event for the film in Mexico, and he snuck in a sweet kiss during a quick moment when he saw an opportunity. 

A video went viral online showing the brief kiss Allen gave Steinfeld as he helped her into a vehicle. Just as Steinfeld went to open the door to the vehicle herself, Allen rushed over. He placed one hand on Steinfeld’s back and pulled the door open with his other hand.

Steinfeld smiled at her fiancé and puckered up, then he leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the lips. After that, Allen guided her into the vehicle and watched as she got situated before shutting the door. 

hailee steinfeld and josh allen share a kiss at sinners premiere pic.twitter.com/rsLIQOkWWi

— best of hailee steinfeld (@archiveshailees) April 1, 2025

The video was not a high quality one, but fans did not care. The brief clip spread across X, formerly Twitter, and other online websites as soon as it emerged. Fans of Steinfeld and Allen could not get enough of it. 

“I’m not crying,” one tweet read.

“So cute,” another fan tweeted.

“That’s a real MVP,” someone else gushed.

An additional tweet read, “They are so in love and Hailee’s pout is so cute!!!”

A fan page of Steinfeld’s also shared the video and wrote, “IT COUPLE!”

Another poster raved, “HER SMILE!”

Someone else shared the video on X and wrote, “Josh Allen rushing over to Hailee Steinfeld at the Sinners premiere in Mexico, kissing her, and showing how proud he is– AW, such a lovely couple!”

“They are a wonderful couple,” commented a TikTok user in response to the kiss video.

Related: Hailee Steinfeld Makes Rare Public Comment About Josh Allen

Morgan Wallen seems to have personally moved on from the drama surrounding his abrupt exit at the end of last week’s episode of Saturday Night Live, but viewers have not.

Details about Wallen’s musical guest stint on the show continue to emerge, and one new report makes it sound as if the country music star was there to perform his two songs and his two songs only.

Related: Kenan Thompson Addresses Morgan Wallen’s ‘SNL’ Walk-Off

According to Variety, Wallen was meant to be featured in the musical digital short “Big Dumb Line,” about the peculiar New York City pastime of regularly waiting in slow-moving lines to experience a one-of-a-kind food or collaboration that rarely lives up to the hype (see: the cronut).

Toward the end of the song, there’s a bridge that was performed by surprise guest Joe Jonas, much to the audience’s delight. But inside sources told Variety that the writers had written the part for Wallen, who declined to participate. The outlet reported that “NBC could not be reached for comment” on the story.

While Wallen has remained tight-lipped amidst all the speculation surrounding his SNL appearance, unnamed sources within his camp told Variety that the “I’m the Problem” singer actually had no problem with Saturday Night Live. Viewers and even SNL cast members sensed there may have been an issue when the singer abruptly left the stage before the credits finished rolling during the evening’s goodnights.

Shortly after his departure from Studio 8H, Wallen posted a photo of a waiting plane to Instagram, which he captioned “Get me to God’s country,” which many interpreted as a subtle dig at New York City. Again, unnamed sources within Wallen’s team insisted that he had a great time performing on the show and that his quick exit was pre-planned. 

Variety spoke with a guest who attended Saturday’s dress rehearsal, who confirmed that Wallen left the stage earlier in the night during rehearsal just as he did when the show was airing.