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Get in the Fall Spirit with Jagermeister Spice Cocktails

By Drew Prindle October 7, 2016

jagermeister spice — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Jägermeister is one of those things that people either love dearly or hate with a passion. But a few years ago, Jägermeister released a new flavor that we can all get behind: Jagermeister Spice. Rather than rocking the controversial black licorice taste, this version is a blend of cinnamon, vanilla and a smattering of other herbs and spices.

The flavor isn’t exactly what you would expect at first. The label leads you to believe that vanilla and cinnamon are the only flavors here, but they definitely aren’t. Drink it neat and at room temperature (Jagermeister’s official serving suggestions) and you’ll taste plenty of clove, star anise, and a faint hint of licorice mingling in there as well. After your first sip it becomes clear that this recipe was derived from Jager’s original blend of herbs and spices, but with more of a focus on vanilla and cinnamon this time around. This gives it a warm, inviting flavor that’s perfect for autumn. After much experimentation, we found that we enjoyed it most when served straight up, but also found it paired well with a variety of other drinks.

Here’s a few recipes we whipped up that you might want to try:

jager and eggnog — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Jågenog – yeah, that name is probably going to be trademarked in a few weeks, but you heard it here first. It’s really not that complex – just Spice and eggnog, but here’s how we suggest making it:

• 1 part room teperature Jagermeister Spice
• 2 parts eggnog
• dash of bourbon whiskey

Bucknut – we found that hazelnut plays well with the herbs and spices of Jagermeister’s new flavor, and a shot of bourbon gives it an oaky kick and some extra warmth.

• 2 oz Jagermeister Spice
• 1 oz Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
• 1 oz bourbon whiskey

hunter's tea — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hunter’s Tea – cinnamon, vanilla, and clove go reaaally well with the subtle bergamot orange flavor in Earl Grey tea. Serve this one piping hot with a cinnamon stick and orange peel garnish.

• 1 part Jagermeister Spice
• 2 parts hot Earl Grey tea
• fresh squeezed orange juice to taste

Track down a bottle near you at Jagermeister.com

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When you list off the most important parts of making a good cocktail your mind likely goes immediately to good ingredients: quality spirits, freshly squeezed citrus juices, and well-matched mixers. You might also consider the importance of using the right tools, like getting a proper mixing glass so your stirred drinks can be properly incorporated, or a good strainer so that there aren't little shards of ice in your cocktails. And then there are the fun additions like elaborate garnishes, bitters, or home-made syrups which can add a personal touch to your drinks.
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Why ice is so important
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When you stir ingredients in a mixing glass or shake them in a shaker with ice, you are chipping away small pieces of the ice so that it dissolves and blends with your other ingredients. You might imagine that water doesn't make much of a difference to taste, being tasteless itself. But it's vital in opening up the flavors of other ingredients. That's why many whiskey drinkers like to add a dash of water to their whiskey when they drink it neat.
If you're ever in doubt of how important water is to cocktails, it's worth trying to make a drink with no ice. Even if you mix up the ideal ratios for a drink that you love and put it into the freezer so that it gets to the chilled temperature that you usually enjoy it at, if you sip it you'll find that your drink tastes harsh, unbalanced, and incomplete. Even for special room temperature cocktails like those designed to be drunk from a flask, you'll generally find water being added at a rate of around 30%.
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