The Dirk Diggler is a two-ingredient highball made from an herbal liqueur, such as Jägermeister, topped up with root beer. It tastes like root beer with a dark, spiced, faintly medicinal backbone, sweet at the start and bitter-herbal at the finish. It is a long, fizzy drink, and the liqueur makes it stronger than the soda suggests.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Herbal Liqueur such as Jägermeister
- fill with Root Beer chilled
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the herbal liqueur.
- Top with chilled root beer, pouring slowly down the side of the glass and leaving a little room at the top.
- Stir gently once or twice to combine.
- Serve straight away.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Why herbal liqueur and root beer get along
Both lean on aniseed, liquorice-style roots and warm spice, so the soda softens the liqueur’s bitterness instead of fighting it. People who like the combination tend to describe it as root beer with a kick, and the herbal note gives the sweetness something to push against.
It will not suit everyone. If you dislike liquorice or aniseed, the liqueur and the soda both lean that way, so the drink will taste like a double dose. Anyone who enjoys either on its own is the likely fan.
Keeping it fizzy and not syrupy
Root beer is the biggest part of the glass, so its quality decides the drink. A thin, very sweet one makes the whole thing cloying, while a spicier, less sugary one lets the herbal liqueur show through. Chill the root beer and the glass beforehand so the ice melts slowly.
Pour the liqueur over the ice first, then add the root beer slowly down the side of the glass and stir once, gently. Hard stirring knocks out the bubbles and leaves a flat, sticky drink. Leave a little room at the top so it does not foam over.
Swaps, floats and a gentler version
For a dessert-style drink, drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and serve it with a spoon, which turns it into a root beer float with an herbal edge. Pour the soda carefully, because ice cream makes it foam fast.
To cut the sweetness without losing the flavour, replace part of the root beer with soda water, or add a small squeeze of lime. For a lighter drink, use less liqueur and more soda. If you are making several, build each glass separately instead of mixing a jug, since a jug goes flat before anyone finishes it.
Dirk Diggler: your questions answered
What does a Dirk Diggler taste like?
Mostly like a spiced, slightly bitter root beer. The liqueur adds herbal and aniseed notes over the sweetness. It is not as sweet as plain root beer, and the herbal finish is the part that divides people.
Can I make it as a float?
Yes. Build the drink as usual, then add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Pour the root beer slowly and use a tall glass, because the ice cream causes a lot of foam. Serve straight away with a spoon and straw.
Which root beer works best?
A real, spicy root beer with some body works better than a thin, sugary one. Choose one you would happily drink alone. Sweeter brands push the drink towards candy, while drier ones let the herbal liqueur come through.
