Does Jägermeister Go Bad?
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When you think of bridal parties, Vegas weekends, stag nights, or a wild night out, more often than not, the notorious Jägermeister probably had a hand in the festivities. What was once created as a digestif liqueur is now synonymous with a wild night out with Jäger bombs and Jager shots.
Jägermeister was created by Curt Mast, son of a vinegar manufacturer in 1934. It is considered a digestif liqueur, which is a drink that is usually had after a meal to aid in digestion. While Jägermeister is that, it also has a high alcohol content, and at 35% ABV, it is on the higher end of a liqueur. What is special about Jägermeister and one of their biggest selling points is that it is made with 56 herbs and botanicals. Some of these include citrus peel, ginseng, saffron, ginger, juniper berries, licorice, and poppy seeds. After filtration and a year in oak barrels, it is again filtered and then mixed with caramel, sugar, and alcohol. It is the combination of all this that gives Jägermeister its distinctive taste. Many people mistake Jägermeister for whiskey, rum, or vodka because of its high alcohol content, but it is actually a liqueur and a digestif at that. The recipe remains unchanged since its inception.
Jägermeister has now expanded to include a range of products all with their signature 56 herbs and spices. Jägermeister is sold in the well-known green bottle with a picture of the stag in front. For a long time, rumors swirled that the Jägermeister recipe included stag or deer or elk’s blood in it, which is why there is a picture of a stag on its bottle. But Jägermeister has officially and repeatedly clarified that that is not true and there is no truth to those rumors.
Does Jägermeister Have An Expiry Date?
- So, like most alcohol, Jägermeister is quite spoil-proof. Meaning, that most things that have a high alcohol content do not go bad, but the quality does go down slowly over time. Alcohol for the most part will remain fine as long as it is stored properly.
- Jägermeister will come with a best-by date and not an expiry date. This date is an indicator of when the product reached peak quality or till when the Jägermeister will taste the best. After the best-by date, the Jägermeister will definitely not go bad. In fact, it will most probably taste the same as it always has, but this is the date after which the quality will start changing, very subtly.
- Like most alcoholic beverages, you can keep your Jägermeister in the fridge or freezer, and it can last for years. Once opened, Jägermeister does need to be refrigerated, or else the quality is going to start going down.
- If you have a bottle of Jägermeister lying around in your fridge for a couple of years, do not worry, it is still consumable. Your Jägermeister is going to stand the test of time.
- But after a few years, it will start tasting a little bit stale, and there are a couple of reasons for this. One, the Jägermeister, whether stored in the fridge or freezer is going to be exposed to fluctuating temperatures when the fridge or freezer door is constantly being opened and warm air is being let in. Similarly, when you keep opening and closing the bottle, you are going to be exposing the Jägermeister to air.
- The Jägermeister is not going to taste as fresh or crisp as it originally did.
- And Jägermeister also has a distinct smell, which will dull with time.
- While Jägermeister does not have a specific expiry date, the sell-by date is a good indicator of how long you can be expected to enjoy it.
| Type of Jägermeister | Pantry | Fridge/Freezer |
| Jägermeister, opened | Sell-by date + few years | |
| Jägermeister, unopened | Indefinitely | Indefinitely |
The above table is an estimate of how long Jägermeister is going to last in your fridge or pantry. This of course depends on the storage condition if it has been maintained at optimal temperatures if some contaminant has been introduced inadvertently and so on.
Keep in mind that Jägermeister is not going to go bad in your fridge or bar cabinet, especially if it is still unopened. And even when opened and kept in the fridge or freezer, your Jägermeister is going to continue tasting good, it will still maintain its potency and flavor.
How Best To Store Jägermeister?
- Jägermeister is best stored at 0 degrees F or -18 degrees C.
- The Jägermeister can of course be stored in the fridge, it will remain cold and taste as good.
- But the official Jägermeister recommendation itself is to store it in the freezer.
- Jägermeister will not freeze when stored in the freezer, though many people do say that it takes on a syrupy consistency.
- Jägermeister is best stored and enjoyed chilled.
- Many people worry about the Jägermeister bottle cracking or breaking in the freezer. The bottle will not crack, and it will be safe in the freezer. If for some reason you need to change the bottle, then transfer the Jägermeister into a freezer-safe, airtight bottle and store it in the freezer.
- You want to keep your Jägermeister in a glass container and not plastic or silicone or other freezer-friendly material.
- If you have an unopened bottle of Jägermeister, then you can keep it in your bar cabinet or kitchen pantry. It is not going to spoil, but store the Jägermeister in a cool, dark place away from direct heat and sunlight.
- It is also recommended that if you are planning to enjoy Jägermeister, to keep a couple of glasses in the freezer so that it gets nice and cold, as cold Jägermeister in a cold glass is the best way to drink it.
What Is The Best Way To Consume Jägermeister?
- Most people drink Jägermeister as a shot. This is most common, especially with younger drinkers.
- But Jägermeister is best when sipped slowly with ice or neat.
- Jäger bombs are also popular, where a shot of Jägermeister is dropped into a stein or glass of beer and downed.
- Although not medically proven, many people think that Jägermeister helps in curing the flu, cough, and cold. This is because it is believed that herbal liqueurs, of which Jägermeister is one, are believed to have medicinal properties.
- Jägermeister might be your favorite shot or liqueur, but it is also a good option to cook with. From chicken to brownies, there is a recipe with Jägermeister in it.
If you are a fan of Jägermeister, you can enjoy it indefinitely, for the rest of your life. It requires little to no extra work for storage. It is a wonderful drink, that is as potent as it is fun. So, enjoy it long and responsibly.
