5 Cocktails That Prove Jagermeister Isn’t Just For Frat Boys

Jägermeister. Long associated with rowdy frat bros and college party excess, the mere appearance of a bottle is likely to elicit shudders from anyone who’s ever overindulged. However, the herbal German spirit — which definitely doesn’t contain deer blood — is a complex, flavorful digestif that has more in common with amaro than Animal House. To that end, the company has been working to reintroduce itself to the craft cocktail crowd. Here are five recipes that prove there’s more to their Jägermeister than the Jäger Bomb. Enjoy!

Sheep’s Clothing

Created by: Laura Shortt, Antietam, Detroit, MI, Photo : Leah Castile, Never Say Die

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Jägermeister
1/2 oz. Hayman’s Old Tom gin
1/2 oz. lemon
1/4 oz. honey syrup
1/2 oz. drops saline
1 bar spoon of full-fat Greek yogurt

Directions: Combine ingredients in a mixing tin with ice and shake. Strain into a coupe. Garnish with a sage leaf. (To make a saline solution, combine 7 oz. water with 1.75 oz. salt in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Stir until salt has dissolved. Let it cool, and transfer to a dropper bottle.)

Planet Rock

Created by: Melanie Mack of The Keep, Detroit, MI; Photo: Leah Castile, Never Say Die

Ingredients
1 oz. Jägermeister
3/4 oz. rock and rye cordial
3/4 oz. Cocchi Torino sweet vermouth

Directions: Combine ingredients in glass with ice, and stir. Strain over fresh ice (or 1 large cube) in a tumbler. (To make rock and rye cordial, simmer 2 liters of rock and rye on medium heat until the bubbles dissipate. Let it cool then add 2 liters of 100-proof vodka.)

Deer on the Beach

Created by: Jarrod Kassis, Great Lakes Coffee, Detroit, MI; Photo: Leah Castile, Never Say Die

Ingredients
1 oz. rum
3/4 oz. Jägermeister
1 oz. coconut milk
1/2 oz. lime
1/2 oz. simple syrup
1/4 oz. falernum
Pinch of salt

Directions: Combine in a mixing tin with ice, and shake. Strain over crushed ice into a tumbler. Top several dashes of Peychaud’s bitters and a torched cinnamon stick.

Paradise Found

Created by: Jake Miller, Sugar House, Detroit, MI; Photo: Leah Castile, Never Say Die

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Jägermeister
1/2 oz. White Rum
1/2 oz. Demerara simple syrup
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

Directions: Combine ingredients in a mixing tin with ice, and shake. Double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime.

Uncle Buck

Created by: Jim Sabataso, The Palms Restaurant, Rutland, VT; Photo: Jim Sabataso

Ingredients
1.5 oz. bourbon
1 oz. Jägermeister
1/2 oz. white creme de cacao

Directions: Combine ingredients in a glass with ice, and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe.

Jim Sabataso is a writer, cocktail enthusiast, and bar director for The Palms Restaurant in Rutland, Vermont. Follow him on Twitter @JimSabataso.