Why It's Confusing
Baileys has expanded its product range to include plant-based options, and that is where the confusion begins.
Baileys Almande, an almond milk-based liqueur, was launched in 2016. The original formula contained beeswax and was not vegan. A reformulated version without beeswax followed in early 2017, but both versions were sold simultaneously for a period. The only way to distinguish them is the label: bottles carrying the printed word "Vegan" on the packaging use the reformulated recipe [[1]](#source-1). Bottles without that marking may contain the original beeswax formula. Beeswax is classified as an animal product by The Vegan Society [[3]](#source-3).
In 2025, Baileys introduced two oat milk-based liqueurs, Coffee Toffee and Cookies and Creamy, marketed as "non-dairy" [[2]](#source-2). Neither product carries a vegan certification. Both include the allergen notice: "Manufactured in a shared environment with products that contain milk." Baileys does not describe these as vegan. The distinction between "non-dairy" and "vegan" is not a technicality. It is a material difference.
The broader confusion stems from the cream liqueur category itself. Cream liqueurs are built on dairy (a casein source). When a brand known for dairy launches plant-based variants under the same name, the assumption that any Baileys product might now be vegan is understandable but incorrect.
Where It Commonly Appears
- Cocktails (espresso martini, Irish coffee, dessert cocktails)
- Coffee drinks at bars, restaurants, and hotels
- Desserts: cheesecakes, truffles, ice cream, tiramisu
- Hotel minibars, duty-free shops, after-dinner menus
- Holiday cocktail specials
A "Baileys coffee" at a hotel bar will almost certainly contain the dairy original unless specifically requested otherwise.
What To Watch For
The following Baileys products are confirmed not vegan. All contain dairy cream [[4]](#source-4):
- Baileys Original Irish Cream
- Baileys Salted Caramel
- Baileys Strawberries and Cream
- Baileys Espresso Creme
- Baileys Chocolat Luxe
- Baileys Red Velvet Cupcake
- Baileys Pumpkin Spice
- Baileys Deliciously Light
- All Baileys Original Minis and canned Iced Coffee Latte products
One product is confirmed vegan: Baileys Almande Almondmilk Liqueur, but only bottles that display the word "Vegan" on the label [[1]](#source-1).
The oat milk liqueurs (Coffee Toffee and Cookies and Creamy) are dairy-free but produced in shared facilities with dairy products [[2]](#source-2). Neither is certified vegan.
Vegan Alternatives
For a cream liqueur that is vegan by design:
- Besos de Oro: Spanish cream liqueur made with brandy from Jerez and tigernut horchata. No dairy, no beeswax, no shared dairy facilities.
- Amarula Vegan (launched 2021): African marula fruit spirit with a coconut milk base. Only the bottle labelled "Vegan" qualifies. Standard Amarula Cream is not vegan.
- Baileys Almande (labelled vegan): Widely available in North America [[1]](#source-1).