Jäger Café Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/16/21
Jäger Café Cocktail (aka the Widow Maker Cocktail)

Gazimal / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

With its key ingredient, you might expect the Jäger café cocktail to be a very intense drink, but it's actually a rather mild cocktail. Also called a widow maker, this vodka martini is not only a unique (and fancy) way to enjoy Jägermeister, but it's also rather delicious.

The recipe pairs the herbal power of Jagermeister with vodka, which helps smooth out the somewhat notorious liqueur. Adding a coffee liqueur gives the drink a nice dimension while the grenadine brings in a bit of sweetness.

Overall, it's an inviting taste and a recipe you'll likely come back to again. Enjoy it with friends, during happy hour, or with dinner. It makes a nice alternative to the average dessert cocktail or Jäger shot, and Jägermeister is actually more often enjoyed as a digestif in Germany, where it is made.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce vodka

  • 1 ounce Jägermeister

  • 1 ounce coffee liqueur

  • 2 drops grenadine

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the vodka, Jägermeister, coffee liqueur, and grenadine. Fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Choose a premium vodka for this cocktail to ensure the taste meets your expectations. Pouring a low-quality vodka will bring the drink's quality down and this is designed to be a fine cocktail, not just another Jägermeister drink.
  • For the coffee liqueur, Kahlua may be the obvious choice because it's the most popular. There are others you might like to try, including Firelit and the coffee options from Leopold Bros., St. George Spirits, and New Deal. And, if you're in the mood for an experiment, this is a great recipe to try out a homemade coffee liqueur.
  • Though you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste, it's often best to keep the first three equal. Definitely try not to go overboard on the Jägermeister in order to retain a good balance of flavors.

Recipe Variations

  • If you need a touch more sweetness, add another drop of grenadine.
  • The Jäger café cocktail is an excellent cocktail to serve on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.
  • For a fun twist, try a flavored vodka. Vanilla would be an excellent choice, as would an espresso vodka. You may enjoy citrus or berry vodkas as well.
  • Instead of grenadine, you can use a pomegranate liqueur such as Pama. Alternatively, other red fruit liqueurs (e.g., strawberry, raspberry, or cherry) can be a good substitute.
  • There are no exact substitutions for Jägermeister, though you can experiment with similar herbal blends in this drink. Some good options include Fernet Branca, Root Liqueur, and Underberg.

How Strong Is a Jäger Café Cocktail?

Though not as strong a vodka martini, the Jäger café cocktail It's up there and definitely not a weak drink. On average, it has an alcohol content in the 25 percent ABV (50 proof) range, so it's wise to take it slow with this one.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
255 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 255
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 12mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)