New Vegan Baileys Rival to Be Released This Year
The Northern Echo has profiled Peter Smith and his vegan food and drink firm Besos, responsible for creating the “Holy Grail of vegan drinks.”
The key ingredient in the Spanish drink, Besos de Oro, which Smith stated “looked and tasted like Baileys, only better,” is the tiger nut. Smith stated that he initially invented the drink as a substitute for his wife, as a serious illness led her to change her entire lifestyle:
“I’d accidentally come up with a vegan and lactose-free version of Baileys liqueur, but while Baileys is full of sugar, which masks the alcohol, ours is not so sweet and you can really taste and enjoy the lovely, smoky Spanish brandy. It’s got a kick; it is now our star.”
The resulting drink is now “suitable for vegetarians, vegans and people with nut allergies and lactose intolerance.” While the company will carry the vegan logo, Smith noted that “more importantly it will be synonymous with high-quality and a delicious taste.”
The “milky tiger nut horchata” will also be used to create Besos-branded vegan chocolate bars, milk alternatives and Besos de Chocolate, a chocolate version of the drink. While Smith is currently in negotiations with supermarket chain Sainsbury’s for an exclusive deal, he states of the future:
“By 2020, I see my drinks being on every shelf that Baileys is on; I’m absolutely sure it will happen. We are expanding into the US this year and to Germany before Christmas. My dream over the next four years is to be in as many countries as possible. Everyone will recognise the Besos brand.”
In 2016, Baileys announced that it had created almond milk-based liqueur Almande, a vegan alternative of its popular drink.
Photo Credit: www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
