Jäger Old-Fashioned
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 29.6% ABV ∙
The Jäger Old-Fashioned is a stirred old-fashioned riff built on German amaro and bourbon, sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with chocolate bitters. Silky and dense on the tongue, with a slow herbal bitterness that unwinds into maple warmth and a lingering cocoa-tinged finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: German amaro (e.g., Jägermeister) 40 mlBourbon 20 mlMaple syrup 5 mlChocolate bitters 3 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use it as a garnish, along with a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before straining so the drink doesn't lose its temperature edge on contact.
- Add the chocolate bitters by the dash and taste — they're potent and can quickly overpower the maple sweetness.
- Stir over ice until well-chilled before straining; this is a spirit-forward build with no citrus to aerate, so stirring keeps it clear and dense.
- Express the orange twist directly over the glass to release its oils onto the surface, then use it as the garnish.
History
The Jäger Old-Fashioned was created in 2017 by Florian Beuren, then Jägermeister's UK brand ambassador, as a way to reposition the herbal liqueur as a mixing spirit rather than a shot. The drink pairs Jägermeister with whiskey, maple syrup, and chocolate bitters, building on the format of the Old Fashioned.
The Old Fashioned itself is one of the oldest named cocktail styles, reflecting the original 1800s definition of a cocktail as spirit, sugar, water, and bitters; it is often traced to Louisville's Pendennis Club around 1880, a story that cocktail historians have since called into question. The Jäger Old-Fashioned keeps that basic whiskey-sugar-bitters structure but adds Jägermeister alongside the whiskey, giving the drink an herbal, bittersweet edge.
FAQ
What is a Jäger Old-Fashioned made with?
It is built on German amaro such as Jägermeister paired with bourbon, forming a rich, herbal spin on the classic old-fashioned.
What is the best thing to mix with Jägermeister?
Bourbon is a natural match, since its caramel and oak notes play well against Jägermeister's herbal bitterness, as in this stirred, old-fashioned-style build. Maple syrup and chocolate bitters also work well, softening the amaro's edge without masking its spice.
What is a Jäger drink?
A Jäger drink is any cocktail built around Jägermeister or a similar German amaro as its base spirit, rather than as a shot or mixer. The Jäger Old-Fashioned is one example, replacing the classic whiskey base with a bourbon-and-amaro combination stirred and served over ice.
Is a Jäger Old-Fashioned shaken or stirred?
Stirred. Stirring chills and lightly dilutes the spirits without aerating them, keeping the drink clear and dense the way an old-fashioned-style cocktail should be.
What glass is a Jäger Old-Fashioned served in?
An old-fashioned glass, strained over fresh ice and garnished with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry on a skewer.
