…this bottle of Bailey’s Irish Creme that I found in my cupboard that says “Best taste before 01-2005”? It’s completely sealed, never been opened (I have no idea where it even came from; I certainly didn’t buy it).
I drank it that old. It tasted fine and I didn’t get sick. So long as you didn’t let it sit in the sun or extreme heat I think it’s good to use.
Drinking the entire bottle in one sitting might make you feel ill anyway though.
Last year (when we moved) I came across a sealed bottle of Baileys that expired in 1996. No idea where it came from, but curiousity got the better of me and I decided to open it instead of just tossing it in the trash. It was **completely ** solid. Not thick, not chunky, but totally solid. I stuck a chop stick in it and it appeared to have the consistency of playdough but still smelled exactly like Baileys.
Is yours still in liquid form? If so, I’d age it like a fine wine and in 2015 surprise your significant other with some Baileys pudding.
ETA: I have no idea why Baileys would turn into a solid (maybe it’s the cream?), but if anyone knows please share. I did find it odd that it wasn’t rancid though.
It says “Best taste before 2005”, so I figure it probably tasted better back then but it’s Bailys, how bad could it be?
Just watch out for scaley manfish named Old Gregg when you open it.
Cool! Did the volume seem smaller, or did it just change state while remaining a full bottle?
If you’re concerned, just be sure to chase it with some lime juice before swallowing. That will neutralize any bad stuff.
Cool! What did you do with it?
Hmmm, not too sure on that but it may have lost some volume. I recall that the bottle was opaque…I couldn’t figure out what was up at first because it felt like a full bottle (based on weight) but when I tried to pour it nothing came out. In retrospect, I did have to stick the chopstick down a bit to hit the top of the stuff…it was maybe an inch or two below the lower part of the bottleneck. But I’m not sure how full a normal/liquid bottle of Baileys comes…
Maybe Otto will age his as an experiment.
I chucked it. Even if I had wanted to drink it…or eat it…(which I didn’t) I don’t know how I would have gotten it out of the bottle. The thing that stuck with me most was that one of the main ingredients was cream, but despite being 10+ years past it’s time, it didn’t smell bad at all. And I live in a warm climate… and it wasn’t in the frig. 
Bailey’s is 34 proof, so I would imagine that would act to retard bacteria growth, which is what causes cream to spoil. Not 100% sure, though.
We call that a cement-mixer. And it’s always fun
I had a similar experience. My FIL who is a non-drinker had an entire collection of booze that he had amassed over the years from vendors holiday gifts through his job. He gave them all to me to stock my bar.
The Bailey’s I opened had solidified into something of a yogurt/pudding state.
Still smelled just fine but got tossed into the trash.
Either you had Bailey’s yogurt or cheese.
Can any bacteria survive in a solution that’s 17% alcohol?
I’ll have to open the bottle when I get home and see if I have pudding.
You need to send that to a professional to have it safely disposed of. Fortunately, I happen to have the requisite training and equipment …
Just shook the bottle; it sounds to still be in liquid form.
How does one drink Bailey’s? Someone’s suggested lime juice. What about just over ice?
Try mixing it 1 part Bailey’s with 1 part Butterscotch Schnapps, add a splash of Half and Half, enjoy! (serve iced or chilled). Add a shot of Bailey’s to your coffee or hot chocolate. This time of year, I’m betting it would be good in iced coffee, too. You can throw some in a blender with some vanilla ice cream (or any flavor ice cream, I suppose) and make a Bailey’s milk shake.
Or, in Enola Gay’s case, you can slice it into little wedges, served on toasted french bread discs to make a yummy amuse bouche that’s certain to be a crown pleaser.