Molly’s Irish Cream and Baileys Irish Cream are two popular Irish cream liqueurs. They share some similarities but also have some key differences. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Molly’s and Baileys side-by-side to help you understand if they are the same product or not.
What is Irish Cream?
Irish cream is a cream liqueur that originated in Ireland in the early 1970s. It’s made by blending Irish whiskey with cream, cocoa, and various flavorings. The result is a thick, creamy liqueur with a sweet, chocolatey taste.
The first Irish cream to hit the market was Baileys Original Irish Cream in 1974. It quickly became popular around the world and inspired many other brands to create their own Irish creams. Molly’s Irish Cream is one such brand that emerged later as an alternative to Baileys.
History of Baileys and Molly’s
Let’s take a quick look at the background of each brand:
Baileys Irish Cream
- Created by Gilbeys of Ireland in 1974
- First cream liqueur to be marketed commercially
- Made with Irish whiskey, cream, and cocoa
- Trademark bottle design with gold lettering
- Owned by Diageo, one of the world’s largest alcohol companies
Molly’s Irish Cream
- Launched in 1995 by The Molly’s Spirits Company
- Made to compete with the leading brand, Baileys
- Uses Irish whiskey, dairy cream, and chocolate
- Distinctive blue glass bottle with silver lettering
- Smaller company based in Minnesota, USA
Baileys has decades more experience and distribution reach as the original brand. Molly’s positioned itself as a cost-effective alternative to the more premium Baileys.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in both Irish creams are whiskey, cream, and cocoa. However, the specific formulations differ:
| Ingredient | Baileys | Molly’s |
|---|---|---|
| Irish whiskey | Triple-distilled Irish whiskey | Irish whiskey (blend not specified) |
| Cream | Fresh dairy cream | Fresh dairy cream |
| Cocoa | Cocoa extract | Chocolate flavoring |
| Sugar | Sucrose and glucose syrup | Sugar (unspecified) |
| Stabilizers & emulsifiers | Carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides | Mono- and diglycerides |
Baileys uses triple-distilled Irish whiskey, which is smoother and more premium. Molly’s likely uses a basic blended Irish whiskey to keep costs down. Both use real dairy cream.
For cocoa, Baileys uses actual cocoa extract while Molly’s uses a chocolate flavoring instead of real cocoa. Baileys also discloses exact sugar sources while Molly’s does not reveal its sugar components.
Finally, Baileys adds carrageenan seaweed extract as an additional stabilizer and emulsifier while Molly’s just uses mono- and diglycerides.
Alcohol Content
There is a slight difference in alcohol percentage between the two Irish creams:
- Baileys – 17% alcohol by volume (ABV)
- Molly’s – 15% ABV
Baileys has a bit higher alcohol content at 17% ABV, while Molly’s is slightly lower at 15% ABV. The difference is minor at just 2 percentage points.
Flavor Profile
Since Irish cream liqueurs contain whiskey, cream, chocolate, and sugar, they unsurprisingly have a sweet, indulgent flavor profile. However, there are subtle taste differences between Baileys and Molly’s:
Baileys
- Rich, thick, and smooth texture
- Notes of honey, vanilla, and caramel
- Slightly bitter cocoa balances sweetness
- Mild whiskey taste in background
Molly’s
- Slightly thinner, milder texture
- Strong chocolate flavor up front
- Sweetness from added sugar quite pronounced
- Whiskey flavor barely detectable
Due to its premium triple-distilled whiskey and real cocoa, Baileys has a more complex, balanced profile. Molly’s delivers more of a sugary, chocolate milkshake-like flavor.
Price and Availability
There is a clear difference in price and availability between these two brands:
Baileys
- 750ml bottle costs $25 to $35
- Sold at all major liquor stores
- Available globally in over 160 countries
Molly’s
- 750ml bottle priced at $12 to $15
- Stocked mostly at discount liquor stores
- Sold primarily in the United States
As a small brand, Molly’s is able to keep its prices low. But it comes at the cost of distribution reach. Baileys costs nearly double but is an internationally recognized brand available worldwide.
Packaging
Both brands come in traditional 750ml glass bottles. Here’s how their packaging compares:
Baileys
- Classic curved bottle with gold lettering
- Cream and gold label with Baileys name
- Reduced bottleneck for pouring
- Sturdy glass feels premium
Molly’s
- Tall slim bottle with silver lettering
- Navy blue label with Molly’s name
- Regular opening, not ideal for pouring
- Lightweight glass feels cheaper
Baileys certainly has the more refined, upscale bottle shape and style. Molly’s container is rather bare bones and ordinary.
Taste Test Comparisons
To provide a direct taste comparison, we did side-by-side blind tastings of Baileys and Molly’s Irish Cream:
Appearance
Visually, Baileys has a darker, richer brown color versus Molly’s slightly thinner, lighter look.
Aroma
When smelled side-by-side, Baileys has a potent aroma of chocolate, roasted nuts, and alcohol. Molly’s has a milder scent of sweet chocolate and cream.
Flavor
On the palate, Baileys delivers a smooth, silky texture with robust chocolate, subtle coffee notes, and balanced sweetness. Molly’s has a thinner, almost watery texture, stronger sweetness, and a fairly one-dimensional chocolate milk flavor.
Finish
Baileys has a long, pleasant finish with lingering chocolate and roast flavors. Molly’s has a weak, quick finish with some harsh alcohol notes.
Overall, the tasting confirmed Baileys’ more premium flavor derived from higher-quality ingredients. Molly’s was quite sweet but lacking in complexity.
Cocktail Use
Both Baileys and Molly’s can be used to make a variety of cocktails. Here are some of the most popular ways to use these Irish creams in mixed drinks:
Baileys
- Irish Coffee – with coffee, whiskey, and whipped cream
- Chocolate Martini – with vodka and chocolate liqueur
- White Russian – with vodka and coffee liqueur
- Mudslide – with vodka and Kahlua
Molly’s
- Shamrock Shake – with mint syrup and cream
- Nutty Irishman – with Frangelico and milk
- Irish Cream Frappe – blended with ice cream
- Tipsy Leprechaun – with melon liqueur and lemon-lime soda
Thanks to its versatile flavor profile, Baileys tends to be used in more cocktail recipes compared to Molly’s. But both can add sweet Irish flair to a range of mixed drinks.
Other Uses
Aside from cocktails, Irish cream liqueurs are commonly used:
- Poured over ice cream or desserts
- Added to coffee instead of cream and sugar
- Drizzled over pancakes or waffles
- Stirred into milkshakes
Both Baileys and Molly’s work well in these non-alcoholic applications. Baileys’ more nuanced flavor comes through when added to things like ice cream. But for simply sweetening coffee, the two are fairly interchangeable.
Company Reputations
In addition to product differences, the brands’ corporate reputations also set them apart:
Baileys
- Made by alcohol giant Diageo, over $15 billion in annual revenue
- Huge advertising and marketing campaigns
- Category leader with 24.5% market share of cream liqueurs
- Perceived as an iconic, indispensible brand
Molly’s
- Produced by small private company The Molly’s Spirits Co.
- Minimal advertising due to small marketing budget
- Barely registers in market share of cream liqueurs
- Viewed as a low-end, generic brand
As one would expect, Diageo-owned Baileys has tremendous brand awareness and perceived prestige as the first Irish cream. Molly’s simply does not have the same reputation or consumer loyalty.
Nutritional Info
Due to their high sugar and fat content from cream, Irish creams are quite high in calories. Let’s compare the nutrition facts of Baileys and Molly’s:
| Nutrition Facts | Baileys (per 1.5 oz) | Molly’s (per 1.5 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 121 | 115 |
| Carbs | 11 g | 12 g |
| Sugars | 10 g | 11 g |
| Fat | 5 g | 4 g |
| Protein | 1 g | 1 g |
There are only minor differences in nutritional content given the similar ingredients. Both provide 100+ calories and 10+ grams of sugar per standard 1.5 ounce serving.
Conclusion
In summary, while Molly’s and Baileys are both Irish cream liqueurs, they have some distinct differences:
- Baileys uses higher-quality whiskey and real cocoa for more complex flavor
- Molly’s has a cheaper price tag but lower availability
- Baileys enjoys greater prestige as the original Irish cream brand
- Molly’s positioning is closer to a basic, bottom-shelf spirit
- In a taste test, Baileys has more nuanced flavors while Molly’s is quite one-note
Considering the premium ingredients, taste, and brand reputation, Baileys is the superior product. However, Molly’s can serve as an acceptable cheaper substitute in cooking/cocktail recipes that call for Irish cream liqueur.