Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Accidentally drank Bailey's that expired 6 years ago!

326 replies

FootpathNameChange · 18/12/2025 11:23

AIBU to be freaking out?

Please can anyone tell me if they've done this? I'm meant to be hosting Christmas for 12 and I'm scared!

My grandma gave me a bottle of Bailey's when I visited her yesterday. I drank half last night and it tasted fine but I've never tried it before so I'm not sure what it should taste like.

Today I'm feeling really sick, I checked the bottle and realised it expired in 2019. It must have been one she had in the back of her cupboard.

Has this happened to anyone? Did you live?

Accidentally drank Bailey's that expired 6 years ago!
OP posts:
vanillalattes · 18/12/2025 16:45

ThatBlackCat · 18/12/2025 14:09

I don't understand how you can have a dairy-based alcohol over ice. That sounds terrible to me, and it sounds odd like it doesn't match. Dairy alcohol in dairy makes sense. Over ice does not.

Very easily - it's delicious.

Much better than "a tiny bit topped up with milk" 😩

blackberryhill · 18/12/2025 16:45

With the caveat that some of the information I've received might be off the mark, one 50ml seving of Baileys is 0.85 units of alcohol, so half of this 700ml bottle (350ml) would be around 6 units of alcohol, or about the equivalent of two large glasses of wine. Not nothing, to be sure, and I'm sure the sugar and fat content wouldn't help my stomach feel any better, but I don't know why everyone's speaking like it's equivalent to drinking 350ml of stright whiskey?

thinky · 18/12/2025 16:55

Enjoying this thread. I'm on the fence regarding Bailey's, because I had a 1 litre bottle I managed to smash on the kitchen floor after drinking 3 small glasses of it. I had hidden it in the wrong cupboard and forgot it was there.

So much sweet sticky gloop full of shards of glass .... but the 3 small glasses drunk on 3 separate evenings made me feel a bit queasy afterwards, each time. So no more Bailey's for me for a while.

Horrorscope · 18/12/2025 16:57

minipie · 18/12/2025 11:24

I think drinking half a bottle of Baileys is the reason you feel sick, regardless of the expiry.

😂

Anythingyousay · 18/12/2025 17:05

Has this happened to anyone? Did you live?

😂😂😂

Bikergran · 18/12/2025 17:09

Starlight1984 · 18/12/2025 14:31

On a similar note - and slightly hijacking the thread sorry - we have two open bottles of Disaronno from Christmas last year (in the drinks cupboard, not fridge). Will they be ok to drink this year??

Yes, it's a liqueur, no cream in it like Baileys.

GentleSheep · 18/12/2025 17:25

Anythingyousay · 18/12/2025 17:05

Has this happened to anyone? Did you live?

😂😂😂

"No, I died!" 😂

Soony · 18/12/2025 17:25

I won a bottle of Baileys in a raffle. Opened it last Christmas and had a taste, didn't like it and put it in the fridge. No idea why I didn't just bin it there and then because I'm pretty sure I still won't like it this Christmas!
<goes off to bin Baileys>

Miyagi99 · 18/12/2025 17:27

Best before is not the same as use by. It’s not an expiry date.

GasPanic · 18/12/2025 17:32

Miyagi99 · 18/12/2025 17:27

Best before is not the same as use by. It’s not an expiry date.

Yes but it implies some discretion on the part of the consumer.

You don't just glug half a bottle and then wonder about the best before date.

You're supposed to assess whether it is good for consumption. Otherwise people could argue it would still be consumable in 3025.

MySilentLions · 18/12/2025 17:36

FrenchandSaunders · 18/12/2025 11:38

It's not that strong ... not like drinking half a bottle of brandy or whisky.

It says 17% on that label - that’s stronger than nearly all red wines and not far off the ABV of something like port.

I know I feel it after 2/3 small glasses of Baileys spread over a few hours, half a bottle and I’d be feeling very rough I reckon!

MySilentLions · 18/12/2025 17:40

ThatBlackCat · 18/12/2025 12:03

You're only supposed to have 2 or 3 very small glasses of it with a tiny bit in, the rest topped up with milk. You feel sick because you are hang over from drinking half a bottle of baileys with a fifth to a quarter of a bottle is more than enough in one sitting. I hope you don't also drink half a bottle of vodka, too, and then wonder why you felt sick?

Topped up with milk? On top of the cream already in it? Bleurgh never heard of that! Sounds horrible!

I have it either neat over a lot of ice or as a shot in coffee.

ParmaVioletTea · 18/12/2025 17:43

You're feeling ill because you drank half a bottle of Baileys in one night.

Alcohol is a preservative, so it's not the Baileys - it's your lack of control.

isthismylifenow · 18/12/2025 17:57

kittensinthekitchen · 18/12/2025 17:26

There are three acceptable ways to drink Baileys.

  1. Over ice

  2. Brain hemorrhage

  3. Baby Guinness

Okay, thread closed.

I'm adding in Springbokkie shooters

Baileys (we use our local equivalent)
Peppermint liqueur

Green peppermint layer first and then the Bailey's otherwise it doesn't quite give the right green and gold effect. (Our rugby colours)

We drank a shitload of these when we won the World Cup 😃

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/12/2025 18:23

MsOtisReflects · 18/12/2025 16:08

I despise ice in any drink (apart from those three days in June when it’s necessary). My Bailey’s lives in the fridge.

Same. It melts

you wouldn’t add water to wine - gin - baileys etc so why

add ice to drinks

Vitriolinsanity · 18/12/2025 20:53

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/12/2025 11:29

How long do folks think it’s OK for once it’s been opened ?

I can answer this, as I’ve put in the legwork and have empirical data.

3 hours.

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 18/12/2025 20:59

It's 17% mate, number 1) that's a lot of alcohol so yes, you will feel sick. Number 2) it's full of alcohol so won't really go off. Have a glass with some ice, don't glug half a bottle, man alive.

HoneyParsnipSoup · 18/12/2025 21:01

While we’re talking about the integrity of liquor based dairy products, DH left my (unopened) tub of brandy butter pouring cream out overnight (online shop arrived last night and he just… didn’t put it away). Shoved it in the fridge this morning but now want some over a mince pie. Would you?

thinky · 18/12/2025 21:15

HoneyParsnipSoup · 18/12/2025 21:01

While we’re talking about the integrity of liquor based dairy products, DH left my (unopened) tub of brandy butter pouring cream out overnight (online shop arrived last night and he just… didn’t put it away). Shoved it in the fridge this morning but now want some over a mince pie. Would you?

I would!

(if it does appear to have gone off you'll be able to tell.)

Blakeley · 18/12/2025 21:42

I just want to admit I used to drink baileys and milk all the time when I was out under age drinking in the late 90s. Im not Australian but it was definitely a trend where I lived. Sorry to repulse you all 😂

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/12/2025 21:47

HoneyParsnipSoup · 18/12/2025 21:01

While we’re talking about the integrity of liquor based dairy products, DH left my (unopened) tub of brandy butter pouring cream out overnight (online shop arrived last night and he just… didn’t put it away). Shoved it in the fridge this morning but now want some over a mince pie. Would you?

Of course. It’s cold overnight.

My question around the Bailey’s was based on a bottle opened last Christmas.

Anythingyousay · 18/12/2025 21:51

Blakeley · 18/12/2025 21:42

I just want to admit I used to drink baileys and milk all the time when I was out under age drinking in the late 90s. Im not Australian but it was definitely a trend where I lived. Sorry to repulse you all 😂

Edited

Me too! It felt grown up without being too strong!

EnjoythemoneyJane · 18/12/2025 22:55

ThatBlackCat · 18/12/2025 12:03

You're only supposed to have 2 or 3 very small glasses of it with a tiny bit in, the rest topped up with milk. You feel sick because you are hang over from drinking half a bottle of baileys with a fifth to a quarter of a bottle is more than enough in one sitting. I hope you don't also drink half a bottle of vodka, too, and then wonder why you felt sick?

You’re honestly not ‘supposed’ to top it up with milk!

Put a shot in coffee, maybe, but I’ve never heard of anyone diluting it with milk - it’s usually just drunk in small amounts straight or over ice. Whatever floats your boat though!

IndysMamaRex · 19/12/2025 00:27

Girl you’re hungover. Half a bottle of Baileys will do that to you