I guess I’m a finicky drinker; it’s been confirmed.

I got some Goldschlager as a little nip a while ago, which was interesting because I usually stick with white wines and vodka drinks. I’ve always stayed away from that one, Jagermeister, and those other weird-sounding liqueurs that I always thought would lay me under the table if I so much as sniffed it.
But there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, so it was time to give it a go.
To demystify Goldschlager a bit, it’s simply Swiss cinnamon schnapps. Like Peachtree, or Peppermint Schnapps, etc. Learning about what a schnapp is is probably for another blog.
Goldschlager is the one that has those little gold flakes floating around on the bottom. The schnapps can be enjoyed straight, or more popularly, mixed with varying flavors to get a specific taste sensation.

According to wikipedia, “Goldschläger is frequently mixed in equal proportions with Jägermeister, 70 proof (35%), and occasionally peppermint schnapps to make a cocktail called Liquid Cocaine, Golden Elk or JägerSchläger. A mixture of Goldschlager, Jagermeister, and peppermint schnapps in equal proportion is known as “Three Wise Men.”

I used that description to start me off on what I should buy, plus I Googled a bunch of different Gold recipes. There were plenty of ideas to choose from. I didn’t buy any peppermint schnapps though, but I already had Kahlua and Bailey’s so I thought I had a good start.
So far I’ve tried the “Gingerbread Man #1″- Bailey’s Irish Cream, Goldschlager, and Kahlua. Since there were no measurements I did equal parts. The drink is apparently intended to be a cocktail, but I just turned it into a large shooter. It was strong to be sure, but sipped, it was quite warm and a bit spicy.

Next, I tried “Black Gold” (also known as “24 Karat Nightmare”, or “Black Leather Whip”) - Black Gold is ¾ oz Jager and Gold each. It’s very cinamoney and smells good. But I was sorely disappointed; it tasted like some kind of cough medicine, not the taste people would normally go for when drinking socially. I just couldn’t get the taste out of my mouth. It was also sickly sweet and kind of bitter. Thankfully, it was warming at the same time. Didn’t attempt another one of those.

I was interested in trying “Angie’s Favorite Oatmeal Cookie” (Bailey’s, Gold, and Jager) but first wanted to see if Jagermeister was the culprit in my utter distaste of “Black Gold.” Yep, there was the medicine taste again.

Then I tried Goldschlager with Kahula. It’s still not my favorite drink, you can definitely taste the bright cinnamon in the Goldschlager. It’s more drinkable, a step up from “Black Gold,” but I’m not craving it. I thought maybe nibbling on some sweet After Eight dinner mints would help with the Gold and Kahlua taste, but it didn’t have much effect.

I didn’t originally have Butterscotch schnapps in our little collection, but broke down and bought some, because it seems to be one of the friends of Goldschlager drinks. I had a feeling I would like that more, since I go for buttery-type creamy drinks.

Then I tried one called “Cinnamon Toast Crunch #2,” which sounds really good. It has equal parts Goldschlager, Bailey’s, and Buttershots. It was definitely like cinnamon and had a cinnamon toast crunch aftertaste. It was creamy and toasty. But still not something I would be that psyched about drinking.

I finally hit the jackpot just as I was about to give up on anything to do with these cinnamon concoctions: I tried Gold with Butterscotch schnapps. Yum! Buttery and very smooth, and it merged nicely with the cinnamon of the Goldschlager, rendering it more subdued and therefore, very drinkable.

I’ve now decided a few things going forward: When experimenting, make sure you don’t buy a huge bottle of something if you’re not sure you’ll like it. I’m now stuck with a bottle of Jager that I will have to mix with something to use it up. My Goldschlager bottle is small so that’s not too much of a problem. Cinnamon schnapps is definitely not one of my ultra-favorites.

Best thing to do is to find those little nips. They might cost more for what you get, but you save money in the long run if you’re experimenting. Also, when mixing a new drink you’re not sure about, make it just a shot if possible, or just halve the recipe, that way if it’s disgusting you can just down it, which is easier than drinking a highball glass full of it.

Samuel Adams Imperial White should come with a warning.

Not because it’s bad but because it packs a punch.

The fruity and refreshing taste would never lead you to believe that the beer comes in at a whopping 10.3 percent alcohol.

I think Sam Adams puts it best saying, “This is not just a more intense version of our spring seasonal Samuel Adams White Ale.  Imperial White is a new recipe that stands on it own merits.  In fact, it is more of a wine substitute than just another refreshing witbier.  This is a beer that should be sipped and savored and you’ll be amazed at the flavors you’ll discover as the beer warms and opens up.”

As I said, it’s fruity but it doesn’t taste like your typical white beer. Yes, it’s fruity but it’s much more bitter and full bodied than most other white beers.

The spicy notes mean the beer could easily stand in for your favorite glass of wine when eating a hearty steak or a spicy meal. Yet the fruity finish also means it is an excellent pairing for desserts and cheeses or you can just drink it on it’s own for refreshment during the hot summer months.

Other beers in the Imperial series are the Double Bock and Imperial Stout. 

The Imperial series can be found at Jasper’s at 4 Temple St. in Nashua.