Jagermeister Liqueur
Jagermeister Liqueur is a 35% ABV (70 proof), 750mL German herbal liqueur from Mast-Jagermeister SE of Wolfenbuttel — the recipe created in 1934 by Curt Mast, built on 56 botanicals: herbs, fruits, roots and spices including cinnamon, bitter orange peel, ginger root, licorice, star anise and saffron, in a formula still kept secret. The ground botanicals are macerated in water and alcohol for two to three days, filtered, and rested in oak for about a year before a second filtering and final blending with sugar, caramel and alcohol. Wine Enthusiast scored it 91 points. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 35% (70 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Herbal liqueur (digestif), dark brown
- Composition: 56 botanicals — herbs, fruits, roots and spices (full recipe secret)
- Production: Macerated 2–3 days in water and alcohol, rested about a year in oak casks, filtered and blended with sugar and caramel
- Score: 91 points — Wine Enthusiast
- Producer: Mast-Jagermeister SE, Wolfenbuttel, Germany — firm founded 1878; the liqueur created 1934 by Curt Mast
The Master Hunter's Recipe, Unchanged since 1934
The name means "master hunter," and the label carries the stag with a glowing cross between its antlers — the emblem of St Hubertus, patron saint of hunters. Wilhelm Mast founded the family firm in Wolfenbuttel in 1878 as a vinegar and wine business; his son Curt created Jagermeister in 1934, and the green bottle and the 56-botanical recipe have defined the herbal liqueur category ever since. The year in oak is the quiet step behind the depth: the casks marry the botanical extracts into one bittersweet whole rather than flavouring it like a whisky. Find it on the Jagermeister vendor page or among the liqueurs.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Dark and herbal — licorice and clove with a faint bitter edge (Wine Enthusiast). Palate: Medium-bodied and bittersweet — anise, cinnamon, candied orange, gingerbread and burnt sugar in retailer notes. Finish: The bitter note carries through, with menthol coolness and molasses.
How to Enjoy
The brand serve is an ice-cold shot at −18 °C — keep the bottle in the freezer and pour into a chilled shot glass. It began life as a digestif sipped chilled after meals, and it also anchors cocktails, classically with ginger beer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many botanicals are in Jagermeister? 56 — herbs, fruits, roots and spices. The full recipe is secret, known only to a few people inside the company.
How strong is it? 35% ABV (70 proof) in this 750mL bottle.
Does it contain deer blood? No — that is a long-running myth drawn from the stag on the label; the recipe is botanicals, alcohol, sugar and caramel.
The original herbal liqueur, best from the freezer — pick up Jagermeister at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.