Jägermeister is one of the most popular liquors in the world. With its unique blend of herbal flavors and spices, it’s known for being strong and bold. There are many myths about how long you can keep your Jägermeister on the shelf before it goes bad, but does it matter? The short answer is yes—but not in the way you might think!
So can you somehow save Jägermeister for a special occasion, or does it go bad?
Once the manufacturer bottles the Jägermeister, it stops aging. After opening, it should be consumed within 6 months for peak taste. However, you may not notice a significant change in taste for up to a year — especially if you’ve got a less discerning palate.
In today’s article, we covered everything about drinking jägermeister safely.
Can Jägermeister Go Bad?
Jägermeister is typically made from a range of grains and is considered shelf-stable. It should be noted that liqueurs with added flavors, such as fruit, herbs or spices — will last up to 6 months after opening. Therefore, Jägermeister should be kept cold in your fridge to extend its shelf life, or else the quality and flavor will spoil fast.
Jägermeister should be stored in a dark, cool place — or even a freezer. Keep the Jägermeister bottles upright to prevent the liquor from touching the bottle cap, which may cause corrosion that affects quality and flavor.
Proper storage will help prevent evaporation and oxidation, thereby extending shelf life.
Video: The Proper Way To Drink Jägermeister.
Does Opened Jägermeister Expire?
Jägermeister is an alcoholic spirit, so it does not have an expiration date. Liquor doesn’t need to be marked with an expiration date because it is not required by law to have one (especially if you’re in the United States).
The best way to keep track of how long your Jägermeister will last is by checking the bottle every few months and ensuring there are no brown spots or mold on the lid. If you see any signs of deterioration, throw out what’s left in your bottle immediately!
People will tell you that one of the benefits of spirits is that they don’t expire. But that isn’t totally true. Jägermeister will come with a best-by date and not an expiry date. This date is an indicator of long Jägermeister will taste the best. After the best-by date, the Jägermeister will not go bad, but its quality and flavor will start changing.
Yes, spirits that are in unopened bottles that have remained sealed are still safe to drink years later. But if the bottle has any added sugars, flavorings, fruit juices, cream etc., — it likely won’t be as good as a newer bottle.
Can You Drink Expired Jägermeister Safely?
You can drink expired Jägermeister safely. The only possible issue might be a slight change in flavor over time, but it’s not going to kill anyone who drinks it. If you’ve got a friend who is really into their liquor and would love some of your Jäger, they may be able to tell you if their preferred brands are still good or not—but even then, most people will probably like what they’re drinking enough to stay safe and enjoy themselves (and hopefully get drunk).
If you have any concerns about the safety of drinking Jägermeister, please consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any action; however, this is unlikely to occur unless there has been an allergic reaction within 24 hours of ingestion.
Why Does Jägermeister Go Bad?
So, what makes Jägermeister go bad? Three main factors can affect the quality of the over time: light, temperature, and air.
Light Exposure
When liquor is exposed to daylight over a long period, it can lose color. For liquor, color changes are indicative of flavor changes. Similarly, temperature changes can degrade an organic molecule called a “terpene,” which alters the liquor’s flavor. Lastly, air exposure can lead to liquor oxidation which affects its flavor.
Temperature
Heat can cause Jägermeister to go bad by accelerating the natural chemical reactions in the spirit. These reactions can cause the flavor and quality of the alcohol to deteriorate, resulting in a less enjoyable drinking experience. In addition, heat can cause the alcohol to evaporate, which can affect the alcohol content of the Jägermeister and change its flavor. Therefore, it is important to store Jägermeister in a cool, dark place to prevent it from being exposed to heat and to help preserve its flavor and quality. This is especially important for high-proof spirits, such as Jägermeister and whiskey, which are more sensitive to heat than lower-proof spirits.
Air
Once you open a Jägermeister bottle, oxidation begins. That’s why most hard liquors will “go bad” within six to eight months. But when we say Jägermeister goes bad, we don’t mean they grow mold, become toxic, or solidify. We mean that the amount of oxidation degrades the flavor and quality to such a degree that you may as well not drink it. But you can if you want.
We recommend that you finish the Jägermeister bottle as soon as possible after you open it. Because once you open a Jägermeister bottle, time’s not on your side.
Best Ways to Store Jägermeister
Jägermeister is a popular spirit often enjoyed at parties and social events. But you should also be careful about storing your jägermeister after opening it for the first time. There are several different ways to store your bottle so that it doesn’t go bad on you, but here are some of the best tips:
Store at room temperature.
Jägermeister is best stored at room temperature. The ideal temperature for storing Jägermeister is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit, although it can be stored in other environments as well.
If you have a refrigerator, keep the bottle in there—but don’t put it on the shelves where everything else will sit next to it! Instead, put your bottle of Jägermeister on an empty shelf where air circulates freely around its edges. This will help prevent condensation from forming on top of your drink (and ruining its taste) when taken out of storage. If you don’t have access to a fridge or live without one nearby, consider putting your empty container in an old shoebox full of newspaper instead because this method works just as well for keeping drinks cold without any harmful chemicals leaching into them over time.
Keep the bottle away from direct sunlight.
Keep your Jägermeister away from direct sunlight. The heat will cause the drink to age faster, which means it won’t taste as good.
You should also never leave a bottle of Jägermeister in a hot car or in any other place where it could be exposed to high temperatures for extended periods. This includes microwaves and ovens, which can greatly accelerate the aging process and make your favorite drink taste like it’s been around for years instead of just yesterday afternoon!
Don’t leave your bottle in places that get too much sun; this includes windowsills and porches—both places where you want to keep your drink cold but also don’t want it melting into oblivion over time due to temperature fluctuations caused by light shining through glass panes (or worse yet: sunlight).
Store in a cool, dry place.
You can keep your bottle of Jägermeister in the refrigerator if you want to, but we don’t recommend it. The flavor will be fresher and more unique if you store it in a cool dark place at room temperature (50-55 degrees Fahrenheit). If there’s any chance of direct sunlight hitting your bottle, cover it with foil or something similar before placing it in your fridge.
If you do choose to store your Jägermeister in the refrigerator, make sure that it’s closed tightly, so moisture doesn’t get into the liquid inside. More on this later.
Keep the bottle capped.
A good way to store Jägermeister is by keeping the bottle capped. This will keep dust and air out, prevent oxidation and evaporation of alcohol, and reduce contamination by bacteria.
Can You Refrigerate Jägermeister After Opening?
It should be stored in the freezer for short-term storage and in the refrigerator for long-term storage.
Refrigeration is the best option for long-term storage. It’s recommended that you refrigerate Jägermeister after opening, but if you need to store it for an extended period (weeks or months), then freezing is not recommended. Freezing will kill off any remaining yeast in your drink, resulting in a flat-tasting product that won’t taste as good as when fresh from the distillery.
If you’re using plastic bottles for storing Jägermeister after opening them up at home, they may lose flavor over time and oxidize much quicker than they would if stored in glass or stainless steel containers while keeping their original strength.
Read more on how to refrigerate Jägermeister here.
Related Questions
Where is Jägermeister made?
Jägermeister is made in Germany, where it’s distilled from 56 herbs and spices. The Mast-Jägermeister SE distillery is located in Wolfenbuttel, Lower Saxony—a small town about an hour south of Hanover.
Is Jägermeister gluten free?
No, it’s not. The product is made from wheat, barley, and rye—all items which contain gluten. This can be a problem for people who have Celiac disease or sensitivity to gluten (or are simply sensitive to wheat). If you’re wondering if your favorite drink contains any trace amounts of the ingredient you’re avoiding, check out this handy guide from Fooducate.
What percentage alcohol is in Jägermeister?
The answer is 35%, which is the same percentage that you’d find in a typical lager or wine. In the UK, where it’s sold as Jägermeister Liqueur, it’s 40% ABV (alcohol by volume). In the US, Jägermeister has 35% ABV.
Final Thoughts
Jägermeister is one of the most popular liquors in the world. With its distinctive blend of herbal flavors and spices, it’s known for being strong and bold. There are many myths about how long you can keep your jägermeister on the shelf before it goes bad, but does it really matter? The short answer is yes—but not in the way you might think!
Jägermeister can be stored in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or cabinet. It should be kept at room temperature and not be exposed to heat or sunlight. Plus, it’s best to keep the bottle tightly sealed when not in use to prevent the flavor from dissipating. And finally, it is important to note that Jägermeister should be stored upright to prevent the cork from drying out and potentially affecting the spirit’s flavor.
