Review: Saint Brendan’s Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur
Saint Brendan’s is one of the least expensive Baileys Irish Cream alternatives, and for a while there it was impressively authentic, made with just Irish whiskey and cream.
Alas, things have changed for the old Saint. The standard bottling is made with Irish whiskey, cream, and “other spirits.” And in this new line extension, those other spirits are made clearer, the recipe reading “We start with dairy cream and grain neutral spirit and finish with Irish whiskey.” So, probably not much Irish whiskey at all any more, to be frank.
With this new expression, there is of course a fourth addition to the recipe — salted caramel flavor, which always tends to be a crowd-pleaser. Here, the aromatics are strong and sweet — coming across like a seasonal Starbucks beverage — and plenty artificial, with overtones of burnt sugar and cotton candy, overpowering any hint of whiskey that might be present in the glass. The sweetness on the palate is palpable and lingers just about forever, heavily saccharine and blunt with overtones of artificial flavoring. Sharp but gummy on the flabby body, the syrupy aftertaste lingers for ages.
At least it’s still cheap. Consume within 6 months of opening; store at 32 to 77 degrees.
34 proof.
C- / $13 / stbrendans.com
Saint Brendan's Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur
$13
