Product Review: Féileacán Irish Country Cream by Premium Blend
This wine-based Irish cream alternative captures the flavor, texture, and versatility of a traditional cream liqueur, without relying on liquor.
Story by:
B.A. Cortelletti
Féileacán Irish Country Cream by Premium Blend is a “liqueur alternative.” In short, while it does contain alcohol, it does not contain any liquor. When people think of Irish creams, their minds tend to drift toward products like Bailey’s, which is spiked with Irish whiskey. Rum is also a popular alcohol used in cream liqueurs. In the case of Féileacán Irish Country Cream, it is fortified with a neutral fermented grape wine. The result is a 13.9% ABV cream liqueur alternative that is just as strong as most standard cream liqueurs. However, because it is wine-based, it can be sold at any location that has a beer & wine license. That gives the product major appeal for many bar owners and retailers, as liquor licenses are extremely expensive. All of this comes with one caveat, though: is it good?
I received a 750 ml bottle of Féileacán Irish Country Cream, and over the course of a week, I had no problem finding plenty of uses for it. First, there is the question of the cream itself. How does it taste on its own? Honestly, it is virtually indistinguishable from a conventional cream liqueur. While the alcohol content may be coming from wine, there is no notable grape flavor, and it even has some of the same boozy warmth that you get from a traditional cream liquor. I’d never guess that this was a ‘cream liqueur alternative’ and not a conventional bottle of Irish cream. It’s sweet, creamy, and has notes of coffee on the nose with a lingering vanilla finish.
The aroma is an exact replica of the flavor. Color-wise, it looks like coffee mixed with cream. The texture is also nice, as it’s creamy without being too thick.
Of course, not many people drink cream liqueur neat, although it does taste surprisingly good when drunk straight over ice. When it comes to Irish cream, the first impulse is always to mix it with coffee. As a hot coffee fan, my first test was to simply mix it in with my hot cup of coffee as a morning pick-me-up. It adds a nice vanilla note and a touch of boozy warmth, despite not containing any actual liquor.
My next step was to mix it with cold brew coffee over ice. With the thicker texture, the cream settled to the bottom of the glass, creating a beautiful color gradient. While a quick stir gets it all evenly distributed, I enjoyed how as I sipped the settled cream and coffee mixture, the shapeness of the coffee was gradually taken over by the sweetness of the cream. This has been my favorite way to enjoy it.
I also used it to make an espresso martini once, with good results. While the inclusion of vodka in an espresso martini somewhat nullifies the concept of purchasing a ‘spirit alternative,’ if you happen to have both at home, there’s no reason not to use this Irish cream along with conventional spirits.
The advantages of Féileacán Irish Country Cream are twofold. First, bars and restaurants that only have a beer and wine license can use it to spice up their menu, opening up the possibility for simple cocktails like Irish coffee and mudslides. For consumers, especially those who live in states with strictly regulated liquor laws, a bottle of Féileacán Irish Country Cream may be a lot easier to come by than a bottle of Bailey’s. There are honestly no drawbacks. Even the packaging is on par with its cream liqueur competitors. It comes in a sturdy, dark glass bottle with a well-designed green label evocative of Celtic motifs.
If a cream liqueur alternative is your only option, then Féileacán Irish Country Cream is a great choice, and even if you do have the option to choose between this Irish cream and another, there’s no reason not to opt for Féileacán.
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