Jägermeister are the most popular bitters in Germany.
It is made from 56 ingredients that include rhubarb and saffron.
It is 35% alcohol.
Some find Jägermeister Bitters the most approachable of bitters, though for others it still tastes too much like cough medicine. It is highly marketed in North America, especially towards youth. In North America, it is marketed as a shooter to be drunk chilled (just keep the bottle in the fridge), and as a mixer, particularly in a drink of 1/3 Jägermeister and 2/3 tonic water served over ice. Bars have special taps installed that chill it to 4 F (-15 C.)
Jägermeister Bitters is sold in bottle sizes of 50 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml, 375 ml, 750 ml, and 1 L.
Literature & Lore
The picture on the label of Jägermeister Bitters comes from the following story: in the 600s, a young noble man named Hubertus ( born c. 656 – 658, died c. May 30, 727 or 728) married a princess named Floribana. She died giving birth to their son (who later became a bishop.) Hubertus lost interest in court life and spent a good deal of time alone in the woods, hunting. While hunting on Good Friday morning, he saw a stage that appeared to have a cross between its antlers, and the stag told him to lead a more holy life dedicated to God or he would go to hell. This moved him to dedicate his life to God and become a monk. He was later made a Saint, and the patron saint of hunters. In French, he is known as St Hubert, and is very popular in Quebec, Canada, where he lent his name to a chicken fast-food chain.
Language Notes
“Jägermeister” means “hunting master.”