Jagermeister is a German digestif that is an herbal liquor, not unlike gin, and typically served after a meal. While becoming fairly synonymous with partying over the years, traditionally, Jagermeister has been an after-dinner digestive aid. Currently, there are multiple types of Jagermeister, which are a far cry from their beginnings.
Jagermeister is made with a blend of 56 herbs and spices. It tastes heavily of licorice and anise, with hints of fruit, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. It’s very thick with a consistency like syrup but isn’t overly sweet.
It smells similar to how it tastes, like fruit and flowers.
How to Drink Jagermeister
While Jagermeister can be drunk in a myriad of ways, there are some that are more popular than others.
On Its Own
Traditionally, Jagermeister was drunk after a meal and was served either neat or over ice. It is meant to be sipped and enjoyed. You should taste herbs, fruits, and a bit of sweetness when drunk slowly.
While it can be served neat, Jagermeister should be served cold. The company recommends a serving temperature of between 0 and 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it is typical, at least for younger generations, to consume Jagermeister as a shot. Warm or room temperature Jagermeister is fairly terrible and when drunk this way is not enjoyable. Even the company itself suggests keeping Jagermeister in the freezer to make it more palatable.
Jagerbomb
This drink became popular in the early 2000s. It consists of a shot of Jagermeister that has been dropped into a beer mug of Red Bull.
These drinks tend to be fairly sweet and it’s often suggested they taste like bubble gum or cotton candy. However, it also has a licorice and somewhat bitter aftertaste as well.
Hunter’s Tea
Jagermeister was conceived by an enthusiastic hunter, which may have been the inspiration for the name of this cocktail.
Drank over ice, Hunter’s Tea consists of Jagermeister, black tea, lime juice, and maple syrup. It has a moderately sweet flavor from the maple syrup and Jagermeister. However, the tea and lime juice help give it an acidic kick which balances out the flavors.
Line Extensions
In the 2010s, Jagermeister added some additional products to its line.
Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffee
This is the original Jagermeister infused with intense cold brew coffee.
It tastes like strong brewed coffee, with hints of chocolate and spice. It has a sweet, rich, and somewhat creamy finish.
Jagermeister Manifest
Here, the original version of Jagermeister has been reworked to add more flavors. This ends up tasting more like a scotch or whiskey than a liquor.
It’s very heavy on the botanicals, more so than the original. In addition, it carries notes of fruit, mint, chocolate, vanilla, and wood.
Its consistency is not syrupy like the original. It’s a little heavier than a whiskey though, somewhat similar to Campari.
Jagermeister Ready to Drink
For a short time, Jagermeister sold its product in ready-to-drink formulas, no mixing necessary. They offered two different flavors Raw and Ginger Lime, both of which were similar to the hard seltzer that is currently popular.
Raw
Raw was mostly little more than a carbonated version of the original Jagermeister. Its job was to be Jagermeister with a refreshing finish similar to sparkling water, basically similar to White Claw..
Ginger Lime
The Ginger Lime, however, has a flavor that diverts from the original. Here Jagermeister has been combined with ginger root and fresh lime to create a sweet and bitter drink that is full of botanical flavors.
Like the Raw flavor, Ginger Lime was also intended to be refreshing and light. Neither are reminiscent of the heavy, syrupy original Jagermeister.
Final Thoughts
While Jagermeister may be thought of as a party beverage, it didn’t originally start out that way. It was common to sip the thick, syrupy, beverage cold after a meal. It tastes like licorice and anise with some spiciness to it.
While Jagermeister is popular to drink as a shot, it isn’t advisable unless the Jagermeister is ice cold. When it is, you can enjoy the beverage and take note of all its flavors.
Over the years, Jagermeister has added some additions to its line, however, none have reached the popularity of the original Jagermeister.