View source for Schnapps

{{Short description|Several types of flavored distilled alcoholic beverages}}
{{For|the alcoholic drink taken with a meal in Denmark and Sweden|Snaps}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox beverage
| name = Schnapps
| image = 
| type = [[Liqueur]]
| abv = 60–100 proof (30–50 vol-%)
| origin = 
| colour = Clear
| flavour = Typically raspberry, apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot, or peppermint
| variants = 
}}

'''Schnapps''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|n|ɑː|p|s|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Schnapps.wav}} or {{IPAc-en|ʃ|n|æ|p|s}}) or '''schnaps''' is a type of [[alcoholic beverage]] that may take several forms, including distilled [[fruit brandies]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/schnapps?q=Schnapps&searchDictCode=all|title=schnapps - Definition of schnapps in US English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries - English|access-date=29 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304181219/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/schnapps?q=Schnapps&searchDictCode=all|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> herbal [[liqueur]]s, [[infusion]]s, and "flavored liqueurs" made by adding fruit syrups, spices, or artificial flavorings to [[neutral grain spirits]].

The English [[loanword]] "schnapps" is derived from the colloquial German word ''Schnaps'' {{IPA|de|ʃnaps||De-Schnaps.ogg}} (plural: ''Schnäpse''),<ref>{{cite book |title=The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language |year=2011 |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] |location=Boston |isbn=978-0-547-04101-8 |page=1562 }}</ref><ref>''Wahrig: Deutsches Wörterbuch'' (Munich: Bertelsmann, 2006). See ''Branntwein'' at p. 298 and ''Schnaps'' at p. 1305.</ref> which is used in reference to [[liquor|spirit drinks]].<ref name="DDN">{{cite web
 | url=https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Schnaps
 | url-status=live
 | title=Duden {{pipe}} Schnaps {{pipe}} Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition, Herkunft
 | trans-title=Definition of ''Schnaps'' in German
 | website=[[Duden | Duden German Dictionary]]
 | publisher=Bibliographisches Institut GmbH
 | language=de
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424093258/http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Schnaps
 | archive-date=2017-04-24
 | access-date=2021-06-25
}}
</ref>
The word ''Schnaps'' stems from [[Low German]] and is related to the German term "''schnappen''", meaning "snap", which refers to the spirit usually being consumed in a quick slug from a small glass (i.e., a [[shot glass]]).<ref>''Kluge: Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache'', 23., erweiterte Auflage (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1999), 734.</ref>

==European==
[[File:Mirabelle, sloe, and pear schnaps.jpg|thumb|right|Three bottles of German Schnapps, made from [[Mirabelle plum]]s, [[Prunus spinosa|sloes]], and [[Williams pear]]s.]]
The German term ''Schnaps'' refers to "any kind of strong, dry spirit",<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last1=Prial |first1=Frank |title=Schnapps, the Cordial Spirit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/27/magazine/schnapps-the-cordial-spirit.html |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 October 1985}}</ref> similar to how ''[[eau de vie]]'' (water of life) is used in French, ''[[aguardiente]]'' (burning water) in Spanish, or ''[[aguardente]]'' in Portuguese.

===''Obstler''===
{{main|Fruit brandy}}
An ''Obstler'', or ''Obstbrand'' (from the German ''Obst'', fruit and ''Brand'', brandy),<ref>''Wahrig: Deutsches Wörterbuch'' (Munich: Bertelsmann, 2006). See ''Obstler'' at p. 1087, "aus einer Obstsorte hergestellter Branntwein."</ref> is a traditional type of schnaps made by fermenting macerated fruit and distilling to produce a clear, unsweetened fruit brandy. ''Obstler'' is traditionally produced in Austria, Switzerland, northern Slovenia, southern Germany, and the culturally German regions of [[Alsace]] and [[Lorraine]] in modern-day France. ''Obstler'' is mainly associated with the southern part of the German-language area; in northern Germany, almost all traditional distilled beverages are grain-based.

The main kinds of fruit used for ''Obstbrände'' are [[apple]]s, [[apricot]]s, [[cherry|cherries]], [[pear]]s, plums (both [[mirabelle plum|mirabelle]] and [[prune plum|purple plums]]), and [[quince]]s. Fruits other than these are rarely used. Apples together with pears produce ''Obstwasser'' (fruit water); pears are used to produce ''Birnenbrand''; when made from the [[Williams pear]], it is known as [[Poire Williams]] or ''Williamsbrand''. Several types of plums make ''{{interlanguage link|Zwetschgenwasser|de|Zwetschgenwasser}}'' ("plum water"); cherries make ''[[Kirsch]]wasser'' ("cherry water"); and apricots are used to make Austrian ''[[Marillenschnaps]]'' (apricot brandy).

The different kinds of ''Obstler'' are similar to the varieties of ''[[Rakija]]'' found in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. ''[[Slivovitz]]'' is a popular schnapps made from [[Damson]] plums found throughout the region; ''[[pálinka]]'' is a traditional distilled beverage made of any fruits grown in Hungary.

===''Geist''===
{{Main|Geist (liquor)}}
[[File:Schladerer_Vierkantflasche_Himbeergeist.jpg|thumb|125px|''Himbeergeist'' made from wild raspberries in the [[Black Forest]] region of Germany]]
A ''[[Geist (distilled drink)|Geist]]''<ref name=EU>{{cite EU regulation| serial = 110/2008 | date=15 January 2008| description = on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 | eurlextag = 32008R0110}} §16, §17</ref> (meaning "spirit" in German) is a type of ''schnapps'', similar to fruit brandy, that is created by infusing macerated fresh berries in [[rectified spirit|neutral spirits]]<ref name=schnapsbrenner>{{cite web |url=http://www.die-schnapsbrenner.de/spirituosenlexikon-h-i-j-k.htm |work=Die Schnapsbrenner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410093628/http://www.die-schnapsbrenner.de/spirituosenlexikon-h-i-j-k.htm |title=Spirituosenlexikon |archive-date=2008-04-10 |language=de }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoellberg.de/d/fachlexikon/ |title= Fachlexikon |work=hoellberg.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009135736/http://www.hoellberg.de/d/fachlexikon/ |archive-date=2007-10-09 |language=de }}</ref> and steeping for some time before distillation. Neutral alcohol is necessary because many berries have a sugar content that is too low to economically ferment and distill; raspberries, for instance, contain between 4.5 and 6.0% sugar.<ref name=schnapsbrenner/><ref name="nyt-1979">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/18/archives/wine-fruits-of-the-distillers-art.html |title=Fruits of the Distiller's Art |first=Frank J. |last=Prial |date=February 18, 1979 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 21, 2021 }}</ref>

The most common ''Geist'' is ''[[Himbeergeist]]'', made from raspberries. Other common fruits are blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, currants, rowanberries, apricots, peaches, and sloes.<ref name=schnapsbrenner/> Other flavorings are also possible, such as nuts, herbs, or [[rose]] petals.<ref name=EU/>

===Liqueur===
Many liqueurs referred to as schnapps, but distinct from fruit brandies, are created by the addition of herbal or fruit flavors to a [[neutral spirit]] by various methods. The neutral spirit used can vary by location and tradition.

The most popular schnapps in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] is [[peach]] schnapps.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archers Peach Schnapps|url=https://www.matthewclark.co.uk/products/spirits/shots-schnapps/archers-peach-schnapps-70cl/|last=Clark|first=Matthew|date=2020|website=Matthew Clark|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> It is consumed in a variety of ways, such as [[Bartending terminology#On the rocks|on the rocks]], or [[Cocktail|mixed]] with other drinks to form a variety of [[cocktail]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=20 Deliciously Sweet Peach Schnapps Cocktails|url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/deliciously-sweet-peach-schnapps-cocktails-4682587|last=Graham|first=Colleen|date=9 May 2020|website=The Spruce Eats|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> It is made by adding peach [[flavouring]] to a neutral grain spirit. It is typically clear and has a strong, sweet taste. It became popular in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What the #$@! Do I Do with This? Peach Schnapps. What It Is and How to Use It.|url=https://www.liquor.com/articles/peach-schnapps/|last=Magyarics|first=Kelly|date=24 May 2019|website=Liquor.com|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> The leading brand is Archers, but some [[List of supermarket chains in the United Kingdom|large supermarkets]] do have their [[Private label|own branded]] peach schnapps, which is sold at a reduced price.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ASDA Peach Schnapps|url=https://groceries.asda.com/product/liqueurs/asda-peach-schnapps/910001309402|date=2020|website=ASDA groceries|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> Archers peach schnapps is more similar to the American style of schnapps.

''[[Kräuterlikör]]'' (herbal liqueur) is similar to Italian [[Amaro (liqueur)|''amaro'']]. Well-known brands include [[Jägermeister]], [[Underberg]], [[Kuemmerling]], [[Killepitsch]], and [[Wurzelpeter]].

==American==
An inexpensive, heavily sweetened form of liqueur<ref>{{cite book |last=Lichine |first=Alexis |title=Alexis Lichine's New Encyclopedia of Wines & Spirits |location=New York |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |year=1987 |pages=306–307 }}</ref> is made in America by mixing neutral grain spirit with fruit syrup, spices, or other flavors. Referred to as "schnapps",<ref name="nyt" /> these are bottled with an alcohol content typically between 15 and 20% ABV (30–40 proof), though some may be much higher. Schnapps, specifically peach and peppermint schnapps, exploded in popularity in America in the 1980s.<ref name="nyt"/>

An Aber Gut (German for "but good") is a traditional [[Wisconsin]] cocktail made with a shot of brandy topped off with a splash of (usually peppermint) schnapps. It is popular in the fall and winter for its apparent warming properties, and a similar drink is found in [[Minnesota]] called a Snowball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grihalva |first=Joey |title=Weekly Happy Hour: Last Word in Cheesehead Culture |url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2016/04/29/weekly-happy-hour-last-word-in-cheesehead-culture/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Urban Milwaukee |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Flanigan |first=Kathy |title=Halloween cocktail called Abergut might be made-up (it's not) but it will warm you |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/2019/10/21/halloween-cocktail-cold-nights-made-schnapps-and-brandy-drink/3925114002/?itm_campaign=confirmation&itm_content=news&itm_medium=onsite&itm_source=onsite |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Liquor}}
* {{annotated link|Brandy}} 
* {{annotated link|Korn (liquor)}} 
* {{annotated link|Pálenka}} 
* {{annotated link|Pálinka}}
* {{annotated link|Snaps}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Schnapps}}

{{Alcoholic beverages}}

[[Category:German distilled drinks]]