Thousands of UK drinkers search for “vegan Baileys” every single month. It’s one of those questions that feels straightforward but opens up a fascinating conversation.
Is Baileys vegan? Was there ever a proper vegan Baileys option in the UK? And if so, where did it go?
This guide covers it all. We’ll walk through the history of vegan Baileys, explain what happened to vegan Baileys in 2022, answer whether Bottega Pistachio is vegan, and point you towards what UK plant-based drinkers can actually get their hands on today. We shall also see how CremAura stands out and aims to deliver ecstasy with vegan options consistently.
Is Baileys Vegan?
No. Bailey's Original Irish Cream is not vegan. Full stop.
The recipe is built around fresh dairy cream, sourced directly from cows. That single ingredient makes it entirely unsuitable for anyone following a plant-based diet. It doesn’t matter how smooth it tastes or how iconic the brand is. Dairy is dairy, and no amount of clever marketing changes that.
It’s not just vegans who are affected, either. Anyone with a dairy intolerance, a lactose sensitivity, or a commitment to reducing animal products will find Baileys Original firmly off the menu. For a product enjoyed in millions of UK homes at Christmas, on birthdays, and on quiet evenings in, that’s a significant exclusion.
But Baileys did attempt to address the vegan Baileys problem. Back in 2017, they launched Baileys Almande: an almond milk-based liqueur marketed as their official vegan Baileys alternative. It was exciting news for plant-based drinkers across the UK.
For a short while, it felt like the vegan Baileys question had been answered. Here comes the spoiler, though: it hadn’t.
Baileys Almande: The Rise and Fall of a Vegan Dream
Baileys Almande arrived as the brand’s answer to growing demand for a genuine vegan Baileys. Plant-based. Almond milk-based. Gluten-free. On paper, it ticked every box.
There was a rocky start, though. The initial formula contained beeswax, which made it unsuitable for vegans, despite the dairy-free claims. Baileys reformulated. The revised version eventually earned its full vegan certification. UK vegan Baileys lovers finally had something to reach for.
For a few years, things looked promising. The product sat on supermarket shelves. It found its audience. But in autumn 2021, Baileys quietly discontinued Almande across European markets, including the UK.
Just like that, the mainstream vegan Baileys option was gone.
What Happened to Vegan Baileys in 2022?
By the time vegan Baileys 2022 search volumes climbed on Google, the product had already been pulled. People hunting for vegan Baileys 2022 options found empty shelves and outdated stockist listings. It was genuinely frustrating.
The vegan Baileys 2022 discontinuation left a significant gap in the UK market. A growing community of plant-based drinkers had come to rely on Almande. When it vanished, many simply didn’t know where to turn. The vegan Baileys 2022 void wasn’t just about one product: it was about inclusion.
The vegan Baileys 2022 conversation intensified throughout that year. Drinkers were vocal. Social media was full of people asking where to find a proper plant-based cream liqueur. The vegan Baileys 2022 wave exposed just how underserved this market really was.
Some assumed Baileys would act fast. They didn’t. In early 2025, Baileys announced new oat milk-based flavours, but only for the US. As of 2026, no vegan Baileys has been confirmed for UK shelves. If you’ve been searching for a vegan Baileys 2022-style solution ever since, you’re not imagining the gap. It’s real. It’s still there.
Is Bottega Pistachio Vegan?
While looking for a vegan Baileys alternative, you may well have stumbled across Bottega Pistachio Liqueur. It’s visually striking. It’s been making waves in the UK. But is it vegan?
No. Bottega Pistachio contains milk derivatives. It is not certified vegan and is not suitable for plant-based drinkers or those with dairy intolerances.
This is worth knowing, because the vegan Baileys 2022 surge in demand sent many UK drinkers exploring the wider cream liqueur market. Bottega was one of the first stops. And many were disappointed to find it wasn’t vegan either.
If you want a fully certified, dairy-free cream liqueur, Bottega Pistachio is off the table. Just like original Baileys.
It’s a pattern worth noticing. So many cream liqueurs reaching UK shelves, even the premium, boutique-looking ones, still rely on dairy. The packaging may be beautiful. The branding may feel luxurious. But without a certified vegan status, plant-based drinkers are still left out. That needs to change. And thankfully, it is.
The Vegan Baileys Gap in the UK: Where Things Stand in 2026
Here’s the honest picture.
There is no mainstream vegan Baileys available on UK shelves in 2026. The vegan Baileys 2022 void was never properly filled by legacy brands. The demand for a vegan Baileys equivalent has only grown, yet the big names remain largely absent from the UK plant-based space.
The vegan Baileys 2022 moment did change things, though. Not because Baileys responded. But because it signalled, loudly and clearly, that UK consumers were ready. They wanted a plant-based cream liqueur. They wanted it certified. And they wanted it to actually taste incredible.
That demand didn’t disappear. It found a new home.
Independent, certified vegan brands stepped into the void. They started crafting something better than any vegan Baileys 2022 alternative that existed before: lighter, smoother, and uncompromisingly plant-based. When you’re choosing your vegan cream liqueur in 2026, here’s what to look for:
● Certified vegan: Not just dairy-free by chance, but officially verified
● Gluten-free: Essential for those with additional dietary needs
● Zero allergens: Clean labelling you can genuinely trust
● A flavour that delivers: Smooth, indulgent, and satisfying every sip
● UK-wide delivery: Because accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought
A genuine vegan Baileys alternative is out there. And it’s far better than a discontinued almond milk liqueur ever was.
The plant-based drinks market has grown enormously in the UK. More brands are entering the space. More supermarkets are creating dedicated vegan sections. Consumers are demanding better. And where the big players have hesitated, smaller, more agile brands have moved quickly to fill the void with products that genuinely deliver.
Cremaura: The Certified Vegan Cream Liqueur You Need
We know why you're here.
You've been hunting for a proper vegan Baileys. You searched for vegan Baileys 2022 and found nothing worth buying. You tried Bottega and realised it wasn't vegan. You've read the listicles, checked the shelves, and come up empty.
That ends today.
Cremaura is a UK-made, certified vegan tequila cream liqueur. Every bottle carries the official Vegan UK certification. We're gluten-free, allergen-free, and BRC accredited: meeting the highest food safety standards in the industry. No dairy. No compromise. Just pure, indulgent flavour.
Our Two Signature Expressions:
Cremaura Tequila Rose: Silky-smooth strawberry and cream, light and luxurious on the palate (Shop Now)
Cremaura Tequila Coffee Caramel: Rich, bold coffee with a luscious caramel finish that lingers (Shop Now)
Since the vegan Baileys 2022 conversation put a spotlight on the plant-based cream liqueur market, we've grown into one of the UK's most celebrated vegan drinks brands. We've been featured in Vegan Food & Living, Plant Based Mag, and Vegconomist. We were showcased at Vegan Camp Out 2025. We won the Plant-Based Excellence Awards 2024 and the Vegan Choice Awards 2024. And every single review? Five stars.
We're not the vegan Baileys 2022 fix the market deserved back then. We're the answer it was always waiting for.
Shop Cremaura today and discover your new favourite. Delivered across the UK, straight to your door.
Searching for Vegan Options Ends With Cremaura
Is Baileys vegan? No. The original is made with dairy cream and has always been off-limits for plant-based drinkers. There has been no mainstream vegan Baileys available on UK shelves since Almande was discontinued in 2021.
The vegan Baileys 2022 conversation was an important moment. It showed just how many UK drinkers were searching for a certified plant-based cream liqueur and not finding one. Bottega Pistachio didn’t fill the gap. The oat milk Baileys news? US-only, and still not confirmed for the UK.
In 2026, the best vegan Baileys alternative available to UK drinkers isn’t made by a legacy brand playing catch-up. It’s made by a certified, award-winning, UK-based brand that has put plant-based drinkers first from day one.
That’s Cremaura: smooth, indulgent, and uncompromisingly vegan.
The vegan Baileys hunt that started back in 2022 finally has the answer it deserves.
Plant-based drinkers in the UK have always deserved a cream liqueur that matches their values. One that tastes exceptional. One that’s certified, inclusive, and made with care. Not a half-measure or a discontinued afterthought, but something crafted specifically for them.
That’s what the market asked for in 2022. That’s what it’s finally getting now.
If you’ve ever loved the idea of a cream liqueur but felt excluded by the dairy, the compromise is over. Sip something made for you. Something certified, indulgent, and proudly plant-based. Something that doesn’t ask you to settle.