Aside from the fun little tiki do I actually helped to cohost a few days back, Brünch with Jägermeister was the only London Cocktail Week event I tagged along to.
It was a good one too – inventive and convivial – and a tasty opportunity for me to get officially over my aversion for this herby German digestif.
Once upon a time, I was a stupid 18-year-old, overeager to drink too much too quick. Early during my first days away from home at university, an especially zealous night of Jäger shot after Jäger shot resulted in what was probably the worst hangover of my life. Lessons were learned to be sure. But I threw the Jäger baby out with the Jäger bathwater when I should have just taken an “all things in moderation” approach to the Meister.
Over the years, I’ve had to come back round to the joys of Jägermeister. It’s a smart shot after a heavy meal and an intriguing ingredient to any number of cocktails. Drinks served during Brünch proved that latter point well. The Root 56 (a zesty ginger beer zinger) was particularly refreshing. The Jäger Old Fashion went down smooth as well.
This was not my first time at Ape & Bird, but it was my first time there since the “Polpo at” prefix got wedged in there. My opinion about this gastro pub with a Venetian slant was not altered: great location, good pub-y digs.
The event was, however, my first taste of Berliner expat Noemi Dulischewski’s Brünch. I loved her smoked mackerel pate with horseradish and apple and her “topless eggs” with extra yummy remoulade. Mega amounts of Teutonically tantalising charcuterie, cheeses, breads, jams, and more all paired perfectly with an assortment of Jägermeister drinks.
Polpo at Ape & Bird is located at 142 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8HJ. Find out more at polpo.co.uk.
For details on where and when to catch Noemi’s next pop-up, go to bruench.com.
More ideals on how to include Jägermeister in your cocktails and as a part of foodie socialising are at jagermeister.co.uk.
