Which alcohol contains milk? A Guide to Cream Liqueurs and Dairy-Based Spirits

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know that roughly 200 million litres of fresh Irish milk are required every year just to produce the cream for Baileys? But this iconic Irish Cream is just one example of which alcohol contains milk, as dairy is also a key ingredient in many other liqueurs, cocktails, and even some innovative distilled spirits.

Quick Summary

Many popular cream liqueurs, including Baileys and Amarula, are made with dairy cream, while some innovative vodkas are distilled entirely from milk. Dairy is also a common ingredient in cocktails and certain beer styles.

Key Points

Cream Liqueurs Contain Dairy: Products like Baileys Irish Cream, RumChata, and Amarula are explicitly made with dairy cream for their rich, smooth, and sweet profile.
Milk-Based Vodkas Exist: Some innovative distillers create spirits from milk products, fermenting the lactose to produce a smooth, dairy-free vodka, like Vodkow and Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka.
Milk is Used in Certain Cocktails: Dairy is a key ingredient for many creamy cocktails, such as White Russians, and for the classic clarification technique known as milk washing.
Lactose is Found in Milk Stouts: The brewing process for milk stouts includes adding lactose, a non-fermentable sugar from milk, to add body and sweetness.
Casein Clarifies Some Wines: Milk protein (casein) can be used as a fining agent to clarify wine, though it is mostly removed before bottling.
Not All Milky Drinks Contain Dairy: Some brands offer vegan versions or use non-dairy substitutes, and clarification techniques like milk washing remove the dairy solids from the finished product.

Cream Liqueurs: The Most Obvious Answer

When you ask "which alcohol contains milk," the most straightforward answer is cream liqueurs. These are beverages that explicitly blend dairy cream with a base spirit. They are designed to be smooth, rich, and often sweet, making them a popular dessert drink or cocktail ingredient.

Popular Cream Liqueurs Containing Dairy

Baileys Irish Cream: Arguably the most famous example, Baileys is a blend of Irish whiskey, Irish dairy cream, and chocolate and vanilla flavors. Its rich, creamy texture and distinct taste have made it a global phenomenon.
RumChata: This liqueur is made with Caribbean rum, fresh dairy cream, cinnamon, and vanilla, inspired by the traditional horchata drink. It has a spicy and sweet profile perfect for mixing or sipping.
Amarula Cream: A South African liqueur, Amarula is made from the fermented fruit of the marula tree, which is then blended with dairy cream. It offers a unique, fruity, and caramel flavor.
Tequila Rose: This is a strawberry cream liqueur that uses tequila as its base spirit, creating a sweet and fruity dessert-like beverage.
Carolans Irish Cream: An alternative to Baileys, Carolans is another Irish cream liqueur featuring cream, honey, and Irish whiskey.
Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur: This brand emphasizes its single-batch, single-farm origin, using fresh dairy cream from family-owned farms in County Cork, Ireland.

Unexpected Milk-Based Spirits and Processes

Beyond the easily identifiable cream liqueurs, milk is also used in other, less obvious ways in alcohol production. This can range from traditional methods of fermentation to modern, innovative distilling processes.

Spirits Made from Milk

Vodkow (Milk Vodka): This Canadian distillery creates vodka from milk permeate, a byproduct of the cheese-making process. The lactose (milk sugar) is fermented with a special yeast and then distilled, resulting in a smooth, lactose-free spirit. The final product has no dairy and is safe for those with lactose intolerance.
Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka: Hailing from England, this is another brand that distills vodka using whey, a byproduct of cheesemaking. The process creates an exceptionally smooth spirit without the flavor of dairy.
Araga (Traditional Milk Vodka): In regions of Central Asia, such as the Tuva Republic, traditional vodkas like Araga are distilled from fermented milk from yaks, cows, and goats. This is a very old practice and is typically done on a smaller scale for local consumption.

Milk in Cocktails and Clarification

Milk Punch: A historic cocktail-making technique involves adding milk to curdle the mixture. The curds and other solids are then filtered out, leaving a perfectly clear, shelf-stable, and smooth spirit. The milk solids bond with and remove harsh compounds, creating a remarkably refined flavor.
Dairy-Rich Cocktails: Many popular cocktails are made with milk or cream as a primary ingredient. Examples include the White Russian (vodka, coffee liqueur, cream), Brandy Alexander (brandy, crème de cacao, cream), and Mudslide (vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, cream). These drinks use dairy to achieve a smooth, rich, and creamy texture.

Milk in Beer and Wine Production

Milk Stouts: The term "milk stout" comes from the addition of lactose, a non-fermentable milk sugar, during brewing. This adds a creamy mouthfeel and a touch of sweetness to the finished beer. Because the lactose isn't fermented, it remains in the final product.
Wine Finings: In some traditional winemaking processes, milk products like casein are used as a fining agent. The casein is used to remove unwanted proteins and clarify the wine, and it is usually removed from the final product. However, traces may remain, which is a concern for some with severe dairy allergies.

Comparison Table of Dairy-Containing Alcohols


Beverage Type	Examples	Dairy Form	Lactose Content	Primary Purpose of Dairy
Cream Liqueur	Baileys, RumChata, Amarula	Cream	High	Flavor, texture, sweetness
Milk Vodka	Vodkow, Black Cow	Milk permeate / Whey	None (Fermented out)	Raw material for distillation, smoothness
Dairy Cocktails	White Russian, Milk Punch	Cream, milk	High (Cocktails), Low/None (Punch)	Creaminess, clarification
Milk Stout	Various brands	Lactose (milk sugar)	High	Sweetness, creamy mouthfeel
Wine (Fined)	Some traditional wines	Casein (milk protein)	Trace / None	Clarification (removed from final product)

Conclusion: Navigating Dairy in Alcohol

The question of which alcohol contains milk has a diverse range of answers, extending far beyond the popular perception of cream liqueurs. From the rich and creamy Baileys to the surprisingly smooth milk-distilled vodkas and complex milk-washed cocktails, dairy plays many different roles in the world of alcoholic beverages. Whether you are avoiding dairy for dietary reasons, like lactose intolerance or a vegan lifestyle, or simply curious about the ingredients in your favorite drink, it's clear that milk's influence on alcohol is both widespread and varied. Checking ingredient lists and understanding production methods is key to knowing exactly what's in your glass. For those who can enjoy it, these dairy-infused and dairy-derived products offer a unique spectrum of flavors and textures. Learn more about the processes used to create some of these unique products at the Drinks Ireland website's profile on Baileys Irish Cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Baileys Irish Cream is made with fresh Irish dairy cream and Irish whiskey, blended with chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Yes, most modern milk vodkas, like Vodkow and Black Cow, are safe for those with lactose intolerance because the lactose is converted into alcohol during fermentation, and no dairy remains in the final product.

Milk washing is a clarification technique where milk is added to a cocktail, causing it to curdle. The curds bind with tannins and other solids, which are then filtered out, leaving a clear and smooth liquid.

Yes, several brands now offer vegan alternatives to traditional cream liqueurs. For example, Baileys has a version called Baileys Almande, made with almond milk.

Milk stouts contain lactose, a non-fermentable milk sugar, which provides a sweet and creamy mouthfeel to the beer. It is not removed during the brewing process.

No, milk vodkas are a specialty product. Most vodkas are made from fermented grains or potatoes. The milk-based variety is an innovative product that recycles dairy byproducts.

Irish cream can curdle when mixed with highly acidic beverages, such as citrus juice or tonic water, due to a reaction between the dairy cream and the acid.