Top tips for creating the perfect Baby Guinness – It’s trickier than you think
Hosting St Paddy's at home instead of the pub? Master the art of the Baby Guinness and make the festive favourite look, and taste, its best. The post Top tips for creating the perfect Baby Guinness – It’s trickier than you think appeared first on The Drinks Business.


With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, there’s no better time to perfect your Baby Guinness shot. Whether you're toasting with friends or buying a round at the pub, the Baby Guinness is a fun and festive choice to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint—and a drink that's certainly worthy of a little finesse.
But here’s the thing: creating a flawless Baby Guinness isn’t as easy as it seems. Using premium ingredients like Edwards 1902 Coffee Liqueur and Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur will make your cocktail taste better, but, unless you follow the right steps, it won't look the part.
While the ingredients might be straightforward, achieving that perfectly layered, pint-like look takes a bit of practice. To help you get the ultimate Baby Guinness just right for your St. Paddy’s celebrations, Five Farms has shared their top tips and common mistakes to avoid, ensuring that you’ll be the star of your St. Patrick's Day gathering.
Top tips for the perfect Baby Guinness
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Refrigerate the glass and ingredients
Serving the Baby Guinness ice-cold is key to its appeal, both in taste and appearance. Chill your glass and ingredients ahead of time—this will help the drink stay cool longer and keep that visual impact intact. -
Add Your Coffee Liqueur carefully
Precision is key when pouring the coffee liqueur. Make sure you don’t splash it up the sides of the glass, as this will disrupt the separation between the dark coffee liqueur and the creamy top. Clean, smooth layers are the secret to a good Baby Guinness. -
Use a spoon for the cream
The signature look of a Baby Guinness lies in the way the Irish cream floats on top of the coffee liqueur. To achieve that perfect float, hold a spoon upside down just above the surface of the coffee liqueur. Slowly pour the Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur over the spoon to let it cascade gently onto the coffee.
Two mistakes to avoid
As simple as it looks, there are a couple of common pitfalls that can spoil your Baby Guinness. Here's how to avoid them:
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Pouring from too high
Don’t overestimate your pouring height. Holding the spoon too far above the drink can cause the cream to splash down into the coffee liqueur, which results in a streaky, cloudy mess. Keep the spoon close to the surface of the drink to ensure the cream floats delicately on top. -
Pouring too quickly
We all know the temptation to rush, but a Baby Guinness is best poured slowly. Pouring the cream too quickly will make it sink into the coffee liqueur, losing that signature layered effect. Instead, drizzle it gently over the spoon for a balanced, beautiful result.
Recipe for the ultimate Baby Guinness
Now that you’ve mastered the technique, it’s time to make your perfect Baby Guinness. Whether you’re serving it as a shot or in a tumbler, this recipe will give you that flawless, pint-like finish.
Ingredients:
- ¾ part coffee liqueur
- ¼ part Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur
Method:
- Carefully pour your coffee liqueur into a chilled glass.
- Slowly pour the Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur over the back of a spoon, allowing it to float gently across the surface of the coffee liqueur.
- Sláinte!