Review: Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream
Today September 1, marks the start of Irish Cream season. It seemed like a great time to take a sip or ten of Mariah Careys new Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream. Irish Cream is no longer just a seasonal drink, but there is something special about Irish Cream in the fall and holiday season. While Mariah Carey enjoys sipping a good Irish Cream liqueur, she always felt there was something missing. After years of development and product sampling she selected her three favorite blends to launch the Black Irish brand. We have already reviewed Black Irish Original and Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream. We enjoyed both, but our previous experience with white chocolate flavored Irish Creams has been a little disappointing. Black Irish White Chocolate is made with Belgian White Chocolate, a special blend of aged Irish Whiskey and fresh dairy cream. So we are optimistic this will be different. Before tasting I did a little research with the questions, what exactly is white chocolate? and what makes Belgian white chocolate different from the rest? In the world of chocolate there is white, milk and dark chocolate. All three start with roasted cocoa beans. The beans are stripped revealing cocoa nibs. The nibs are ground separating the cocoa butter from the cocoa solids. Dark Chocolate contains between 50-90% cocoa solids. Milk Chocolate 10-50% cocoa solids. White Chocolate only contains cocoa butter. White Chocolate must be made from a minimum 20% cocoa butter. Most white chocolates add milk powders, palm oils, or other fillers. Belgian White Chocolate is made from 100% cocoa butter. Read more 
Review: Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream
Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream is one of three premium Irish Cream liqueurs in Mariah Careys new spirit line. Two years in the making Mariah Carey was involved from product development, to the package design that includes three butterfly images. A not so subtle nod to her Butterfly album. The other flavors include Black Irish Original Irish Cream and Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream. Credit for creating the first salted caramel product goes to Frenchman Henri Le Roux. He was a chocolatier who opened a store in Quibron Brittani. He wanted to develop a unique product that would help him stand out. In 1980 it was named to best confectionery in France. I’d say mission accomplished. Starbucks receives most of the credit for extending the popularity of salted caramel to the masses when they introduced their salted caramel hot chocolate in 2008. Try finding an unsalted caramel product now. With a retail price of $29.99 Black Irish was not created to be as good as the market leader at a lower price. Black Irish was crafted to be better than the market leader, and the premium price reflects the Songbird Supreme’s confidence it is. Read more
Review: Black Irish Cream
Black Irish Cream was just released. Black Irish Salted Caramel, and Black Irish White Chocolate complete the Black Irish Cream product line. The Black Irish Cream brand is owned by Mariah Carey. Unlike some celebrity owned spirit brands who attach their name to a finished product, Mariah Carey was involved in creating the brand from product sampling at ingredient houses, to the finished product. Over 30 finished Irish Creams were crafted and sampled before selecting the three that make up the Black Irish Cream product line. Through the years the term Black Irish has taken on several meanings. In Ireland it is a term used to describe Irish people with dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark complexion. Some claim these are descendants of the survivors from the Spanish Armada of the Mid 1500’s. In the US it is a term often describing people of mixed race, Irish and African American. Mariah Carey herself is Irish from her mother and African American from her fathers family. Black Irish Cream is made from a special blend of aged Irish whiskey, Irish spirits, fresh dairy cream and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Baileys Colada
Baileys Colada is the latest flavor variant offered by Baileys. It is a Limited Edition summer flavor. Strawberries and Cream, Red Velvet, and Apple Pie all started as Limited Edition flavors and they are still available. Pumpkin was a Limited Edition Flavor that returned each fall until it didn’t. Colada is one of eleven Baileys varieties still available including Baileys Original, Strawberries and Cream, Salted Caramel, Apple Pie, Vanilla Cinnamon, Red Velvet, Chocolate Cherry, Espresso Creme, Almande, and Deliciously Light. Read more
Review: Connellys Original Country Cream
Connellys Original Country Cream is currently available as the store brand at over 2000 Aldi’s stores in 36 states across America. It is made by R.A. Merry in Tipperary Ireland, from a grape wine, and neutral spirits alcohol base. No other creamery producers more brands of Irish Cream and Country Cream than R.A. Merry. Natural flavors, dairy cream, and caramel color are blended with the spirit base before bottling at 13.9% Alcohol. Read more
Review: Baileys Deliciously Light
Baileys Deliciously Light was just released. As the name would suggest this is a reduced calorie version of Original Baileys Irish Cream. A 2.5 oz. serving of Baileys Deliciously Light weighs in at 16.1% alcohol with 139 calories .8 grams of fat, 7.8 sugar grams, and 9.3 carbs. By comparison Original Baileys Irish Cream weighs in at 17% alcohol with 233 calories, 10.1 fat grams, 13.3 sugar grams, and 16.1 carbs. Both are made with Irish dairy cream, rich chocolate and vanilla flavors. Baileys Deliciously Light does not contain Irish Whiskey. Read more
Review: Connellys Caramel Country Cream
Connellys Caramel Country Cream is one of five varieties of Connellys Country Cream liqueur sold at Aldi’s stores throughout the US. Connellys has replaced O’Donnells as Aldi’s store brand. In Ireland there are four creameries that produce almost all of the worlds Irish Cream and Irish Country Cream. They are Baileys, Terra, First Ireland Spirits, and R.A. Merry & Co. O’Donnell’s was made by R.A. Merry. The previously reviewed Connellys Pumpkin Spice & Connellys Strawberry are produced by First Ireland Spirits. Here is where it gets confusing Connellys Caramel is made by R.A. Merry. Connellys Caramel is made with grape wine, grain neutral spirits, cream, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Connellys Pumpkin Spice Country Cream
Connellys Pumpkin Spice Country Cream is a seasonal country cream sold at the over 2000 Aldi Stores located in 36 states throughout the US. It is produced for them by First Ireland Spirits in Co. Laois Ireland. Pumpkin Spice is one of at least five flavor varieties they currently offer on a year round or seasonal basis. Country Cream is made with a grape wine and neutral spirit alcohol base. Irish Cream is crafted with Irish Whiskey and a neutral spirit base. Fall is far and away the peak season for cream liqueur sales so it is no surprise Connellys is one of several cream liqueur producers who offer a pumpkin spice flavor. Connellys Pumpkin Spice weighs in at 13.9% alcohol. Read more
Review: Connellys Strawberry Country Cream
Connellys Strawberry Country Cream is sold at Aldi Stores throughout the US. It has replaced O’Donnells as their store brand of Irish Country Cream liqueur. Country Cream is basically Irish Cream made with grape wine instead of Irish whiskey. This is more than just a change of name as O’Donnells was made by R.A. Merry Co. Connellys is produced by First Ireland Spirits Co. First Ireland produces several brands of Irish Cream and Country Cream including Feeneys Irish Cream and O’Mara’s Country Cream. While Connellys does not have a web address or a Facebook account it is imported by Mack & Schuhle and on their webpage it shows an image of eight Connellys Country Cream flavors including Strawberry, Blueberry, Cappuccino, Caramel, Chocolate Orange, Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, and Mint Chocolate. While I have only seen Connellys Original, Strawberry, Pumpkin Spice, and Caramel Country Cream at Aldi stores I’m told Blueberry made a brief appearance. Maybe the others will arrive next year. Read more
Review: Fennellys Mint Chocolate Cream Liqueur
Fennellys Mint Chocolate Cream Liqueur is one of seven varieties of Irish Cream this Total Wine & More store brand currently produces. The others include Fennellys Irish Cream, Fennellys Almond Cream, Fennellys Strawberry & Cream, Fennellys Cappucine, Fennellys Peppermint, and Fennellys Salted Caramel. Mint was one of the first flavors Irish Cream liqueurs were made with, but a few of these mint flavored brands are no longer produced including Baileys with a Hint of Mint and Saint Brendans Peppermint Bark. It is curious the only two active mint flavored Irish Creams are Fennellys Mint Chocolate and Fennellys Peppermint. Read more