What’s Not To Love About The Versatile Schnapps?

For discerning trend-followers, diners, and drinkers — the humble schnapps has fallen out of favor. Visit any of the top-rated bars and restaurants in your area, and you’ll hardly encounter anyone ordering this much-overlooked beverage. That’s unfortunate, as it’s an excellent after-dinner drink that more patrons need to enjoy regularly!

Moreover, it’s not a beverage anyone will grow bored with too soon due to its wide range of flavors. These include anise, apple, butterscotch, cinnamon, hazelnut, licorice, peach, peachtree, peppermint, and raspberry. And for the more adventurous drinkers, there are more off-beat options such as bacon, bubble gum, and cotton candy.

But what type of drink is schnapps, and does it have a high alcohol quantity? It’s a distilled spirit often made from fruit or grain, which contains 15% ABV (alcohol by volume) on the low end and about 50% ABV on the high end. Other ingredients include fruit juices, herbs, and spices for flavoring purposes.

Also, it’s an incredibly versatile beverage. Drinkers often consume schnapps as either a shot or as an additive in cocktails or other drinks. And it’s a drink that is usually available at most bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and nightclubs. Even some online retailers will sell popular schnapps brands, such as Berentzen, Rumple Minze, and Teichenne.

Therefore, there’s no excuse not to try this beverage since it’s widely available and comes in a vast assortment of flavors. So, let’s delve deeper into this delicious but misunderstood European alcoholic drink!

When And Where Was Schnapps Invented?

The beverage has been popular in Europe since the 15th century. It’s derived from the German word schnaps, which aptly means ‘strong alcoholic drink.’ Its original ingredients include fruit juices, herbs, and other additives. People often utilized it as a medicinal drink to treat colds and other ailments. By the 17th century, schnapps became a popular spirit in Austria and Germany and later spread to other European countries. In the early 20th century, Americans began to enjoy flavored schnapps, including apple, cherry, and apple.

A notable contributor to the creation of schnapps includes the distillery Berentzen, founded in 1758 in Haselünne, Germany. Nowadays, this liqueur company stands as one of the biggest producers of schnapps on a global scale.

What’s The General Profile Of The Schnapps Drinker?

While schnapps isn’t very popular nowadays, it still has fans in select countries and age groups. There’s still a sizable consumer base for the beverage in Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

And it’s even enjoyed in China, South Korea, and Japan, where it shares some similarities to shochu in the latter country. Sadly, its market in Africa and South America is tiny, although it has limited appeal in Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa.

Most drinkers veer to the younger side but prefer to consume schnapps as a shot or mixed into a cocktail drink. While people of all ages enjoy the beverage, its future feasibility and success depend on the young adult market.

How Is Schnapps Made?

Fermenting grains, fruits, or flowers in a large vat will initiate production. After completion of this early stage, boiling the mixture produces a liquid with alcohol. Distilling this liquid in a still further concentrates the alcohol. The type of still and the distillation temperature determine what kind of schnapps will come out of production.

After distillation, it’s time for maturation in oak barrels, which allows the flavor to become rounded. Then, the beverage is bottled and enjoyed. Its color, strength, and taste may vary according to the ingredients used and the duration of aging.

But Is It A Healthy Drink?

As mentioned earlier, its original purpose was that of a medicinal drink. But that doesn’t mean everyone should be haphazardly consuming it due to its added sugar content. Those with diabetes and those needing to reduce their sugar intake should steer clear of this drink. However, it’s possible to avoid sugar altogether by purchasing German brands with zero sugar content, unlike American brands that usually contain sugar and glycerine

Also, schnapps is a good source of carbohydrates and helps keep people warm during the winter. So, young and healthy individuals and athletes may enjoy some minor benefits, provided they consume it responsibly.

But what are the potential dangers if someone drinks too much schnapps? Due to its high alcohol content, the drinker may suffer from inebriation and, ultimately, from heart and liver disease after prolonged consumption. And similarly to other alcoholic beverages, schnapps can be addictive and lead to dependence. Therefore, it’s best to drink it in moderation and seek professional help if dependency issues arise.

What Makes Schnapps So Incredibly Versatile?

Few may know this, but schnapps is one of the best all-purpose drinks available in the market! And with only a tiny bit of effort and imagination, everyone can prepare delectable treats or use the beverage in the following scenarios:

  • It enhances existing cocktails by adding complexity, flavor, and sweetness.
  • Most popular shots and margaritas benefit immensely from the inclusion of schnapps.
  • It’s the ideal beverage for outdoor happenings ranging from beach parties to barbecues.
  • Use peach schnapps as the ideal additive to make a tasty Long Island iced tea.
  • Make an exquisite caramel-flavored Irish coffee with butterscotch schnapps for a more decadent flavor.
  • It gives desserts and ice creams that extra bit of edge with its strong alcohol content.
  • Adding peppermint schnapps makes festive drinks such as eggnog punchier and tastier.
  • Those trying to lose weight can try out a White Wine and Peach Sangria that includes schnapps as one of its core ingredients.
  • Creative bakeries and confectioneries may use it as an additive in their pastries and cakes.

Which Are The Most And Least Popular Flavors?

Most drinkers seem to enjoy the following flavors: apple, banana, butterscotch, cherry, coconut, peach, peppermint, melon, and raspberry. But these are only a tiny sample of available flavors and the safest options. It’s common for many drinkers to order a peach schnapps shot or peppermint schnapps regularly. And completely forget about or avoid the lesser popular or more exotic variants of schnapps.

These flavors may include the following: bubblegum, blueberry, cinnamon, cranberry, ginger, grapefruit, honey, licorice, and pomegranate. However, it’s wise to try out these less popular flavors, especially if bottled by a German or Swiss brand, such as Berentzen, Goldschläger, or Jägermeister.

How To Make A Delectable Peach Martini?

There are several ways to make a peach martini, but the addition of peach schnapps helps make its peachy flavor a bit stronger. To make a peach martini, you’ll need to acquire the following ingredients first:

  • A cocktail shaker
  • A chilled martini glass
  • Several ice cubes
  • A bottle of vodka (Belvedere or Grey Goose are a good choice)
  • A bottle of peach schnapps (Archers will do)
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Fresh orange juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Grenadine (consisting of pomegranate, lemon juice, and sugar)
  • A fresh peach slice (as an optional garnish)

That may seem like plenty of ingredients, but fortunately, making a peach martini is a relatively simple process. Now, follow these steps to prepare a tasty and refreshing peach martini:

  • Fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  • Then, add these ingredients with the following quantities and order: (1) two ounces (59,15 milliliters) of vodka, (2) an ounce (29,57 milliliters) of peach schnapps, (3) half an ounce (14,78 milliliters) of lemon juice, (4) half an ounce (14,78 milliliters) of simple syrup, (5) and half an ounce (14,78 milliliters) of orange juice.
  • Seal the cocktail shaker, then shake it vigorously until it’s very cold to the touch.
  • Remove the seal, and gently pour the mixture into the martini glass (ensure it’s chilled beforehand).
  • Gently pour the grenadine over the back part of the spoon, and allow it to sink to the bottom of the martini glass.
  • Garnish the drink with a fresh peach slice (if available).
  • Now, it’s time to enjoy your peach martini!

How To Make A Tasty Polar Bear Shot With Peppermint Schnapps?

If you’re a fan of chocolate and peppermint, then you need to try out a Polar Bear Shot. And the best part is that it’s incredibly easy to prepare with only a bare minimum of ingredients, which consists of the following:

  • A cocktail shaker
  • Ice cubes
  • A chilled shot glass (although you may choose to have several)
  • A jigger (to help you measure the correct quantities that will go into the shots, but this is optional)
  • Peppermint schnapps (DeKuyer or Hiram Walker are both good choices)
  • White Creme de Cacao (DeKuyper will do)

Now that you’ve acquired all these ingredients, it’s time to prepare the beverage as follows:

  • Chill the shot glass or shot glasses by placing these inside a freezer for at least 30 minutes.
  • Fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  • Then, use the jigger to measure one part peppermint schnapps and one part creme de cacao and pour them into the cocktail shaker.
  • Seal the cocktail shaker, and shake it vigorously for about 10 seconds.
  • Remove the seal, and gently pour the mixture into a chilled shot glass.
  • You may add a splash of cream at the top of the shot, but it’s not mandatory.
  • You’ve just prepared a delicious Polar Bear Shot that’s ready for your enjoyment!

How To Make A Delicious Caramel-Flavored Irish Coffee with Butterscotch Schnapps?

Making a caramel-flavored Irish coffee with butterscotch schnapps requires several ingredients, such as follows:

  • A large mug
  • A cup of freshly brewed hot coffee (any brand will do, but choose a premium fair trade brand if possible)
  • One or two tablespoons of Irish whiskey (Bushmills Original or Jameson are good choices)
  • Two or three tablespoons of butterscotch schnapps (DeKuyper is a good choice)
  • One tablespoon of caramel syrup
  • Caramel sauce
  • Whipped cream
  • Cinnamon or nutmeg (as an optional garnish, but recommended)

While that’s not an insubstantial number of ingredients you need to acquire, things become easier from this point on. To prepare the beverage, you’ll only need to do the following few steps:

  • In the large mug, pour the freshly brewed coffee and the tablespoons of Irish whiskey. And then, stir them together thoroughly.
  • Add two or three tablespoons of butterscotch schnapps and one tablespoon of caramel syrup, and stir thoroughly.
  • Add whipped cream on the surface of the beverage, then trickle the caramel sauce on top of the cream. You may now add cinnamon or nutmeg if you have these ingredients available.
  • Your caramel-flavored Irish coffee with butterscotch schnapps is now ready to be enjoyed!

In Conclusion

With its humble beginnings as a medicinal drink, schnapps has undergone significant changes over the past five centuries. It’s a delicious digestif that young and old can enjoy, especially during those cold winters in the Northern Hemisphere. But it’s also incredibly versatile that’s ideally suited for shots, cocktails, and even cakes.

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