December 2023
toasting to the season’s infinite possibilities.
Holiday Messages From the team
Willy Shine
Happy December and Happy Holidays from myself and the entire Jägermeister family. As industry professionals, December often means working at the busiest time of year and getting caught up in the seasonal grind. We often forget to step back, take a deep breath, and remember that this is a time to come together with the people important to us. As you make drinks and provide your legendary hospitality this season, I hope you remember to let your passion, love and dedication shine through in everything you do.
Nate Laird
The holidays provide a special set of feelings, colors, and flavors that motivate and inspire me and the cocktails I make in December. Since these things are around for a limited time, I like to dive right into seasonal trends, have fun, and bring an infectious holiday cheer to the people around me. I hope you find time to laugh, eat, and drink with the people you love, and remember that the good times start with you. Happy holidays and thanks for spending the last month of 2023 with Behind the Shot!
Mathias Simonis
To me, the holidays are an experience that we get every year that we see differently because of who we are and what we do. I try to celebrate the holidays in whatever way feels right that year, while always being thoughtful and thankful. December is a time we can reflect on the work we’ve done, who we are, and how we can push ourselves to be the best version of ourselves as we go into the new year. From one professional to another: cheers, contemplate, and enjoy the season in a way that’s meaningful to you.
Shottails for the season
What inspired you to make this shottail?
December means a lot of cookies and baked desserts, and I wanted to capture the feeling of cookies and milk in this shottail that’s easy to make and even easier to drink. The notes of baking spice in Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee combine with Rumchata to bring the iconic taste of holiday cookies. Oat milk lends a smooth, creamy body, and pairs beautifully with the notes of cinnamon and ginger.
1 part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
1 part Rumchata
1 part Oat Milk
½ part Apple Cider
Glass: Shot
Garnish: None
Method: Shake & Strain
What inspired you to make this shottail?
I wanted to put an adult twist on sorrel, a Jamaican drink for the holidays that brings together tangy hibiscus flowers, fresh ginger, allspice and cloves. Blessings in a Cup incorporates the bright, aromatic punch of apple cider in place of hibiscus, and the sweet bite of ginger liqueur, which echoes the ginger, galangal, and cloves in Jägermeister. Jamaican rum lends a full-bodied sugarcane flavor while paying homage to my inspiration for this drink.
Recipe:
½ part Jägermeister
½ part Ginger liqueur
½ part Jamaican Rum
½ part Apple Cider
Glass: Shot
Garnish: Apple Slice
Method: Shake & Strain
What inspired you to make this shottail?
My next door neighbor growing up would offer me hot cocoa and biscotti after shoveling her driveway when it snowed. That rich, toasty combination left an impression on me and I tried to capture that here in this one of a kind shottail that tastes like warming up on a cold winter day. The notes of cacao in Jägermeister Cold Brew blend with the buttery, chocolatey taste of crème de cacao, while biscotti liqueur lends notes of sweet, malty grain for a unique, dessert-like drink. Don’t let Krampus lure you away from this cozy and comforting winter treat.
Recipe:
¾ part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
½ part Biscotti liqueur
½ part White crème de cocoa
Glass: Shot
Garnish: N/A
Method: Layered (optional)
What inspired you to make this shottail?
I wanted to channel a classic holiday taste that’s both nostalgic and modern. The sugarplum syrup draws on the mellow, sweet taste of dried fruit, and the spices provide a warmth to create a profile that just feels like winter. The richness from the coffee and cacao in Jägermeister Cold Brew compliments the sweet spice of the syrup without competing with it, creating a shottail that’s just as home at the bar as it is in front of the fireplace at home.
Recipe:
¾ part Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
½ part Lemon Juice
¼ part Sugar Plum Syrup
Glass: Shot
Garnish: Cinnamon Sugar Rim
Method: Shake & Strain
Sugar Plum Syrup:
2 QT Water
¼ cup Dried Figs – diced
¼ cup Dried Apricots – diced
¼ cup Dried Plum – diced
3 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Tbsp Cardamom Pods
5 Star Anise
1 Tsp Clove
1 Tsp Allspice
Combine all ingredients in pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half. Cover and steep overnight. Strain and combine with an equal part of sugar, heating to dissolve.
