Dark as molasses, thick in the glass. The nose is dense - clove, liquorice root, menthol, and a dark herbal undercurrent. There's orange peel and cola syrup in there too, along with dried herbs and black tea.

The palate is where it comes alive. Sweet up front - treacle, dark fruit, and spice - then swiftly turns herbal and dry. There's a medicinal complexity: cinnamon, gentian, aniseed, wormwood. It's not subtle, but it's coherent - it moves with weight and purpose.

The finish is bold and bitter-sweet. Long, lingering, and warming.

In summary: Jagermeister is a wild beast tamed by sugar. Part liqueur, part apothecary. You don't sip it to be refreshed - you sip it to be reminded.