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Want a Jaeger drink beyond the Jägerbomb? This Jagermeister Old Fashioned turns the herbal liqueur into a smooth cocktail built for sipping.
Looking for a Jaeger drink outside of the classic Jagerbomb? Try it in an Old Fashioned! As a certified mixologist and craft cocktail enthusiast, I’ve only made a few drinks with this German liquor: but this Jagermeister drink is my favorite way to use it.
Muddle sugar and bitters, then mix in rye whisky and Jagermeister, and it tastes like a standard Old Fashioned but with an intriguing black licorice essence on the finish. Here’s how to make it!
Why You’ll Love This Jaeger Drink
- It’s a 2-minute cocktail. It’s so simple to whip up.
- The flavor is surprisingly sophisticated. Jägermeister’s anise and herbal notes make it similar to an Italian amaro, and gives the classic Old Fashioned a complexity.
- It’s an easy crowd-pleaser to explain. “It’s an Old Fashioned, but with Jäger” makes people intrigued.
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Surprisingly excellent. The Jager adds a nice earthiness and sweetness to the rye’s spiciness. Orange bitters bring additional complexity to the table while some simple syrup rounds it out. This will definitely be a staple for me.” -ThatchPatch
Ingredients You Need
The Old Fashioned is an ideal Jagermeister drink: it’s complex and interesting, great for slow sipping instead of how it’s normally consumed in split-second shots. To make this drink, you’ll need a good rye whisky as well. The Old Fashioned is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This spin simply adds Jagermeister, to add an anise flavor similar to a Sazerac. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Sugar cube
- Angostura bitters
- Jagermeister
- Rye whiskey
- Orange peel and cocktail cherry garnish
How to Make This Jagermeister Drink
The method is pure Old Fashioned, so if you’ve made one before, this will feel familiar (jump to the recipe for the full steps):
- Muddle the sugar and bitters. Add the sugar cube to a mixing glass and add the orange bitters. Muddle until it mostly dissolves.
- Add the spirits and ice. Pour in the rye and Jagermeister, then fill the glass with a handful of ice.
- Stir until cold. Stir for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Strain and garnish. Strain into a lowball glass over fresh ice (one big cube is ideal). Express an orange peel over the top, run it around the rim, and drop it in.
Pro Tip: Use A Big Cube of Clear Ice
Going for an over-the-top cool Jagermeister drink? When you’re making an Old Fashioned, a large ice cube is key. How to make one? Make clear ice. It’s crystal clear ice that isn’t cloudy like ice made in an ice tray. You can slice it into organic shapes that are perfect for any size of drink. Here are two methods for making clear ice:
- Make clear ice at home. All you need is a small cooler that fits inside your freezer. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.
- Use a clear ice maker. We use this clear ice maker and it works well! It also fits easily into your freezer.
What Exactly Is Jägermeister?
In the US, Jagermeister is known as a low-brow liquor, often often drunk as shots on college campuses or as a Jagerbomb mixed with Red Bull. But what actually is this popular liquor?
- Jägermeister is a German digestif liquor invented in 1934. The name means “Hunting Master,” the term for a German official in charge of hunting and gaming.
- Why is Jagermeister popular? Turns out, an American marketing genius is behind it! A man named Sidney Frank ran the liquor importing company that imported Jagermeister. In the 1980’s, he promoted the drink to students as a party drink and it caught on. Without Frank, Jager would still be a drink for middle-aged Germans.
- What does Jagermeister taste like? It tastes herbal, with a strong anise or black licorice flavor. In fact, it’s very similar to the flavor of an Italian amaro like Amaro Nonino.
Other Old Fashioned Variations to Try
- Try the Classic Old Fashioned
- Use syrup for a Maple Old Fashioned
- Go Midwest with the zany and unique Wisconsin Old Fashioned
- Try a Skrewball Old Fashioned with peanut butter whiskey
- Grab a Fireball Old Fashioned with Fireball whisky
- Go for a smoky Oaxaca Old Fashioned (with Mezcal) or Smoked Old Fashioned
Jagermeister Old Fashioned (Best Jaeger Drink!)
Want a Jaeger drink beyond the Jägerbomb? This Jagermeister Old Fashioned turns the herbal liqueur into a smooth cocktail built for sipping.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- ½ ounce Jagermeister
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- Orange peel, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add the sugar cube and coat it with the bitters. Muddle the sugar cube with a cocktail muddler or wooden spoon until mostly dissolved. Add the Jagermeister and whiskey and fill the mixing glass with a handful of ice.
- Stir until cold. Strain the drink into an iced-filled lowball glass.
- Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.
This was great, I did one at home based on it and the result was not bad. I just didn’t have garnish for it. https://www.bottlebrief.com/cocktail-review/an-unconventional-twist-on-a-classic-jagermeister-old-fashioned-cocktail-review/
Surprisingly excellent. The Jager adds a nice earthiness and sweetness to the rye’s spiciness. Orange bitters bring additional complexity to the table while some simple syrup rounds it out. This will definitely be a staple for me, but I suggest a new name… how about the “Heartwood?”
Let us know if you have any questions!