Jägermeister is a German herbal liqueur (Kräuterlikör) from Wolfenbüttel in Lower Saxony, blended from 56 ingredients and bottled at 35% ABV. The recipe was developed by Wilhelm and Curt Mast in 1934, and the brand remains the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. Curt Mast was a keen hunter, and the name Jägermeister translates as "master of the hunt".
The ingredients include 56 herbs, fruits, roots and spices, among them citrus peel, liquorice, anise, poppy seed, saffron, ginger, juniper and ginseng. The exact recipe remains a secret. The inspected, ground ingredients are mixed with a solution of alcohol and water and then subjected to an extraction known as cold maceration, which takes place at room temperature and lasts several weeks; the resulting high-quality macerates are combined into the Jägermeister base, which then matures for several months in oak casks. After this stage the distillate is filtered again and blended with sugar, alcohol and caramel, which gives it its characteristic dark colour.
Its sensory profile is built on the interplay of bitterness and sweetness. The aroma is herbal, with accents of citrus, spices and a light sweetness, while on the palate the liqueur is complex and balanced, combining notes of citrus, liquorice, anise and spices such as cinnamon and ginger. It stands out for its dark, mahogany colour, syrupy texture and a profile dominated by anise and black liquorice, with herbal and spicy accents.
The producer recommends serving Jägermeister chilled, over ice, suggesting storage in the freezer at −18°C or from a dispenser at between −15 and −11°C. In this form it is most often drunk as an ice-cold shot, though it also features as a cocktail ingredient. The 1-litre bottle is a handy format for longer-lasting enjoyment.