Recently I have introduced an interesting drink made with the Mystic Mango Lemonade by Thomas Henry: The Burning Thunder. Since I personally like the taste of mangoes very much, I have in principle an open mind about Highballs made with mango lemonade. Cocktail purists and nostalgics may be irritated and who has devoted her- or himself solely to the Prohibtion style will certainly answer with a shake of the head, but then….who cares?
That’s why today I want to introduce another drink, which – you may have already got it – was also taken from the website of Thomas Henry as an example respectively a suggestion for mixing the Mystic Mango lemonade. However, you may of course – as you can when mixing a Burning Thunder – consider using a different mango lemonade. However, I like the Thomas Henry variant and therefor will stick to the original recipe.
While doing some research on background information about the drink I was stuck at a certain point. The only thing I could figure out was that this drink was invented by Ike Strika of the BarCel in Berlin. Now I’ve never been at the BarCel and accordingly I can’t say much about this place. The Facebook page of the Bar was last updated and commented in January 2015 so I’m not sure whether the BarCel is still open. Anyway, let’s have a closer look on the drink itself.
The cocktail bears the quintessentially German name “Fräulein Elster” (“Miss Magpie”) and there is a reason why this is quite a special recipe for me. It’s because the base spirit of this Highballs is Jägermeister. My opinion of Jägermeister is not necessarily the best, even if my thinking may be unjustified. Jägermeister is certainly a quite aromatically and considerable spirit, but in the end decades of relentless marketing attacks did their part and put me right off it. That it is often used as a cheap and highly questionable “Beschleuniger” (“accelerator” – a German phrase for using shots to get drunk really fast) in the context of excessive alcohol abuse on parties does not make things better. Nevertheless: While I appreciate Italian Amaro, it would of course be wrong and premature to put a German equivalent under general suspicion just because the marketing machine operates somewhere between offensively and ostentatiously.
In the Fräulein Elster cocktail Jägermeister does work really well! Together with the amazing Carpano Antica Formula, lemon juice and vanilla syrup a complex, fruity and balanced taste with a touch of exoticism is created. Why the drink bears the name “Fräulein Elster” is, however, not really clear to me. Maybe because it sounds at least as stereotypical as “Jägermeister” does.
Recipe (according to the information on the Thomas Henry-website):
4 cl Jägermeister
2.5 cl Carpano Antica Formula
3 cl fresh lemon juice
1 cl vanilla syrup
Thomas Henry Mystic Mango
Preparation: The drink is “built” in the glass. Therefor add Antica Formula, lemon juice and vanilla syrup to your highball glass and stir briefly on ice. Then pour in Mystic mango lemonade and float the Jägermeister on top of the drink over the backside of your bar spoon.
Glass: Tumbler or Goblet
Garnish: sprig of thyme and orange zest
Buying sources: For the Carpano Antica Formula and the Thomas Henry Mystic Mango Lemonade you might need to visit a specialized store. The remaining ingredients can usually be found without any problems in regular supermarkets. Vanilla syrup can also be easily made on your own. Usually the self-made one tastes much better! (Yo can find quality recipes in vast number throughout the internet.)
