Tirlán is proud to celebrate a 50 year partnership with Baileys

Where the story begins

Wherever you go in the world, chances are you will find a connection to Tirlán behind most bars and in many households. This is because all of the cream that gives Baileys its unique taste comes from our Tirlán suppliers. November 2024 saw Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur celebrate its 50th birthday. Tirlán have been proud partners and exclusive suppliers of cream into Baileys since its launch in 1974. That year, 227,000 litres of milk were used and 18,000 litres of cream blend delivered to Baileys in a 250-gallon tanker.

Market launch and expansion

After launching on the Irish market in 1974, Baileys was next launched in the UK followed by the Netherlands and other countries in Western Europe. It was only when Baileys launched in the US in 1979 that demand increased substantially, with the US becoming its largest market by the mid-1980’s.

International growth

As demand for Baileys grew around the world, so too did investment in the plant at Virginia. In the 1980’s, an automated cream blending plant and new laboratories were constructed. Changes were also made in order to improve stability and shelf life. This was driven by demand from warmer markets such as the US, South America and South Africa.

The Tirlán Baileys relationship today

The phenomenal growth and success of Baileys is reflected in the milk and cream figures. In the first five years after launch, 12 million bottles of Baileys were sold. Today, Diageo sells over one hundred million bottles globally each year across 160 countries. This makes Baileys the number one selling cream liqueur in the world.

Our relationship with Baileys has also evolved and grown. Through our ongoing partnerships, we have a shared ambition as two large Irish brands to use our platform in a positive way. Whether it is supporting local communities through the Baileys Cow competition at the Virginia Show or delivering on our sustainability ambitions through the Sustainable Farming Academy, we will continue to look for new ways to partner for good.

All our internal teams are committed to continuously delivering best-in-class service, products and innovations to the Baileys brand. A huge thank you to Commercial, Marketing, R&D, Finance, Supply Chain & Ops, Agri, HR and Sustainability – with a special call-out to the Virginia and Ballyragget sites, for this ongoing commitment. We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with Baileys and developing new innovations, like the recent Baileys plant-based product made using Tirlán oats.