“Schnapps” is a German term for a strong alcoholic drink, flavored with fruit or herbs and spices, either through the distillation process or by mixing ingredients with a neutral spirit. Flavors such as peach, apple, peppermint and cinnamon are especially popular.
Flavors
Some schnapps flavors are found in both European and North American schnapps, though the taste is often very different.
In Europe, fruit schnaps like apple, apricot (marillenschnaps), cherry (kirschwasser, or kirsh), pear, and plum (zwetschgenwasser) are the most popular flavors. Obstwasser is a fruit brandy made from both apples and pears, while apfelkorn is a sweetened apple schnapps created by Berentzen in the 1970s. Sometimes, herbal spirits like Underberg and Jägermeister are also classified as schnaps.
In North America, apple, banana, butterscotch, cinnamon, peach, and peppermint schnapps are the most common flavors. Youll also find apricot, blackberry, cherry, grape, lemon, melon, and root beer schnapps.
What Is Schnapps Made From?
In Europe, schnaps can describe any strong distilled spirit, particularly those of at least 32 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 64 proof). However, the schnaps label is most often used for unaged fruit brandies (or obstler) fermented and distilled from fresh fruit juices. Some, such as the raspberry-flavored himbeergeist, are made with a fruit infusion thats introduced to a neutral grain spirit during the second distillation.
Schnaps is most prevalent in Germany, where it originated for medicinal uses, though its also commonly enjoyed in Austria, Denmark, and Sweden. The German word “schnaps” translates into English to mean hard liquor or booze, and has a loose translation of “snap,” referring to the strength of the spirits.
While a few craft distillers in the U.S. make true schnaps, most North American-style schnapps tend to be much sweeter. Popularly made in both the U.S. and Canada, this type of schnapps is often made by mixing neutral grain spirit with fruit syrup, spices, or other flavors. While rye and wheat are most common, the grain could also be barley, buckwheat, or oats.
The European style of schnaps tends to be well-crafted 80-proof liquors that are comparable to other brandies. North American schnapps, however, are often on the lower end of the quality spectrum and seen by some as novelty liqueurs. Of course, there are exceptions, and you can find good schnapps at a higher price.
The alcohol content of schnapps can range between 15 and 25 percent ABV (30 to 50 proof), depending on the brand. Peppermint schnapps, and some other flavors, can be very strong, and youll find bottles that are up to 50 percent ABV (100 proof). Always read the label when buying schnapps.
What is Schnapps?
FAQ
How strong is schnapps?
Is schnapps a hard liquor?
Do you drink schnapps like a shot?
What’s the difference between whiskey and schnapps?