Jägermeister, commonly known as a “boozy classic,” is actually a digestif. This type of beverage usually has a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage and is a liqueur infused with herbs, spices, barks, and other “earthy” ingredients.
According to the Jägermeister company, their product is gluten-free. Jägermeister is not made with any wheat, rye, or barley ingredients, although it does contain a total of 56 ingredients! Unfortunately, the list of ingredients is top secret and is not published anywhere. Other gluten-free alternatives to Jägermeister include Underberg, Amaro Ramazzotti, Sazerac, and Grand Byrrh.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of Jägermeister and some fun facts, how it is produced, possible health benefits, and offer alternative brands you may enjoy. Let’s dig in!
Contents
The story of Jägermeister
It all began with vinegar. The company was founded in 1878 in Germany by Wilhelm Mast, a vinegar maker. His son, Curt, worked and tested a recipe of 56 botanical ingredients to create the famous “Jager.” Made from herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits and it contains 35% ABV, it’s one of the best-selling herbal liqueurs available.
The name “Jägermeister” comes from the legend of Hubertus, and the German interpretation of the name to be “Master Hunter.” This also contributes to the bottle’s famous green label. The stag and the white cross, as well as the first line of the German hunting poem Weidmannsheil by Oskar von Risenthal.
Fun facts about Jägermeister
- The ingredients in Jägermeister are completely secret and the recipe has been the same for almost 90 years.
- Just like the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, the Jägermeister manufacturing plant in Wolfenbüttel, Germany is also quite the tourist spot, enjoying year-round tours.
- Germans refer to Jägermeister as “liver glue,” as it is a digestif, as an after-dinner drink.
- You can use Jägermeister to make delicious foods, including a sauce for chicken wings and brownies.
- With even just a little over 500 employees, it is still the world’s best-selling brand of liqueur.
- The American show How I Met Your Mother showcases Jägermeister in the series. There is a bottle of it in Ted and Marshall’s apartment at the front door.
- Jägermeister is trying to distance itself from the Jäger Bomb. It would like to get back to its sophisticated roots of being a classy drink instead of a party booze.
- In 2010 when Europe won the Ryder Cup, the famous golf trophy, Rory McIlroy drank Jägermeister straight from the Cup.
- The emerald bottle which Jägermeister is famous for was selected by a pretty rough process. Hundreds of different glass bottles were thrown onto the floor before the one was found which would not break.
How Jägermeister is made
While the 56 ingredients in Jägermeister are top secret, the process of making the beverage is pretty simple. All of the herbs, fruits, roots, and spices are ground up and then steeped in water and alcohol for 2-3 days. This is then stored in oak barrels for a year or more. The liqueur is then filtered and mixed with sugar, caramel, and alcohol. The company recommends that you drink the beverage at a very cold temperature and keep it in the freezer.
Possible health benefits of Jägermeister
There are many ingredients in Jägermeister which have health benefits. Here are just a few of them:
- Coriander – helps to prevent gas and is an antispasmodic for the stomach
- Licorice root – can help suppress coughing and cure digestive peptic ulcers
- Ginseng – helps strengthen the immune system and reduce the duration of a cold
- Blueberries – high in antioxidants and fiber, helping to aid digestion
- Lavender – calming properties which can help with insomnia and stress
- Cloves – fever reducer and an anti-inflammatory
- Cinnamon bark – reduces intestinal gas and stimulates the appetite
What’s in Jägermeister?
There is an original recipe from 1934 that has circulated on the Internet, but the actual list of ingredients for Jägermeister is top secret, it is not published anywhere. These ingredients have been verified to be part of the recipe, but this is all that is available:
- Cinnamon bark
- Star anise
- Cloves
- Saffron
- Coriander
- Bitter orange peel
- Chamomile flowers
- Licorice root
- Lavender
- Rose hips
- Poppy seeds
- Juniper berries
- Ginseng
- Red sandalwood
- Blueberries
- Chiretta
- Ginger
- Galangal
- Clove
- Mace
- Cardamom
There is also no nutritional information which can be found for the Jägermeister beverage.
Recipes popular for using Jägermeister
- Jäger Bomb
- 1 ½ ounces Jägermeister Liqueur
- 8.4 ounces of Red Bull energy drink
- California Surfer
- 1 ounce of Jägermeister Liqueur
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- The Inside Scoop
- 1 spritz Yellow Chartreuse Liqueur
- 2 ounces Jâgermeister Liqueur, chilled
- 4 ounces root beer, chilled
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- 3 dashes root beer bitters
- Orange peel, for garnish
- MasterMix
- 1 1/2 ounces Jägermeister Liqueur
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 1 dash aromatic bitters
- Cherry, for garnish
- German Vacation
- 1 ounce gold rum
- 1 ounce Jägermeister
- 3/4 ounce ginger syrup
- 3/4 ounce orgeat syrup
- 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Orgeat syrup was originally made from barley. Today, though, it is usually made with almonds or other nuts and orange flower water. This is good news for those who are on a gluten-free diet, since it is not made from ingredients which contain gluten.
Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
Just recently Jägermeister introduced a new product, their cold brew coffee, which is a combination of the Jägermeister 56 botanicals and 100% arabica coffee.
Recipes popular for Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
German Holiday
Ingredients:
- 1 part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
- 1 part Egg Nog Liqueur
How to make:
Combine the two beverages together, and then shake it. Strain this into a chilled glass and garnish it with some grated cinnamon.
Chocolate Pfefferminz
Ingredients:
- 1 part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
- 1/2 part Peppermint Syrup or Liqueur
- 6 parts Quality Rich Dark Hot Chocolate
How to make:
Combine the beverages in a mug, and garnish it with whipped cream and some crushed peppermint bark.
Hunter’s Stocking
Ingredients:
- 1 part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
- 1 part Horchata Cream Liqueur
- 1/2 part Grenadine
How to make:
Combine the beverages together and then strain it into a chilled shot glass. Garnish with cinnamon and then add a sugar rim.
Alternative brands
Underberg
Since 1846 the Underberg family-owned company has been producing herbal digestives. It also has a secret recipe it follows, as well as the SEMPER IDEM method of making the digestives.
Containing only water, alcohol and herbs from 43 different countries, there are no additives, and the beverage is considered to be gluten-free, GMO-free, and is kosher certified. It is 44% ABV, and free of added sugar or caramel.
Nutrition Facts (for 2 oz serving):
- 50 – Calories
- 0.05 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0.05 mg – Cholesterol
- 0.05 mg – Sodium
- 0.06 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Amaro Ramazzotti
A brand of liqueur whose recipe has been a well-guarded secret for more than 200 years, we can share that this beverage is made from 33 ingredients found around the world. Herbs, spices, flowers and fruits combine to produce a gluten-free beverage you can enjoy mixed or neat.
Amaro Ramazzotti contains the following ingredients: (not all listed)
- Quinine
- Rhubarb
- Gentian
- Orange Peels
- Rosemary
- Origan
- Absinthe
- Hyssop
- Myrrh
- Turmeric
Nutrition Facts (for 2 oz serving):
- 30% ABV
- 101 – Calories
- 1 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 8 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Sazerac
Goldschlager, from Sazerac, is a cinnamon-flavored liqueur with real flakes of gold in it. Made in Switzerland, it is 43.5% ABV Goldschlager is a Swiss-made cinnamon-flavored schnapps that has flakes of real 24-karat gold floating around in it.
Grand Byrrh
Grand Byrrh from France is an aromatic wine. It is flavored with plant extracts and has enhancements from cinchona bark, known commonly as quinine. Caves Byrrh, where Grand Byrrh is made, has the largest oak vat in the world. It has the capacity to hold over 1 million liters of beverage. It can be drunk as an aperitif or makes a nice pairing with bleu cheese. As a mixed drink, it can be combined with Irish whiskey, tequila, cognac, vodka and gin, with a splash of grapefruit.
Final Thoughts
Jägermeister is a gluten-free digestive beverage which those who deal with celiac disease or gluten intolerances and sensitivities can enjoy. There are various alternative beverages to the Jägermeister drink, and as always, please drink responsibly.
Related Questions
Is Jägermeister vegan?
Jägermeister is not made with any animal by-products or ingredients, so it is considered acceptable to a vegan diet.
Is Jägermeister keto-friendly?
Jägermeister is not keto-friendly. With 17 carbs and 154 calories per serving, it is not a beverage which can be consumed on a keto diet.
Is Jägermeister whiskey?
Jägermeister is not whiskey. It is a digestif and has herbs and spices, fruits and roots as its base, unlike whiskey whose base ingredient is fermented grain mash.