Schnapps and Aquavit - What's the difference? (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between aquavit and schnapps? ›

Schnapps can have a varying alcohol percentage, but will most often be between 37-45%. What is an aquavit? Aquavit is also flavored with spices, but the most characteristic flavor is caraway. It typically also contains dill and may contain other spices such as coriander and anise.

Ultimately, gin is usually a specifically defined term for a juniper-flavored neutral spirit, and schnapps is a more casual and colloquial term for a wide range of flavored drinks, often fruit-based.

Fruit-based schnapps, like brandies or eaux-de-vie, are distilled from fermented fruit such as apples, cherries, plums or pears. These are clear spirits, approximately 80 proof or higher, without added sugar. Similar products include kirschwasser (cherry), slivovitz (plum) and poire William (pear) eaux-de-vie.

True Schnapps has no sugar added and is definitely an aquired taste, particularly for nationalities not used to raw distillates." So schnappses are different from liqueurs on two major fronts, they being both fermented and distilled, where liqueurs are simply fruits steeped in an alcohol which has already been ...

In essence, aquavit is like a gin that's flavored with caraway or dill, rather than juniper. Or, for those poor souls still clinging to their vodka: Aquavit is like a vodka laced with savory herbs. It's difficult to understate how central aquavit is to the traditional tables of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

A neutral spirit distilled from grain or potato (much like vodka or gin), aquavit is most commonly flavored with caraway as its dominant spice, though dill is prevalent as well. Styles of aquavit vary and often include other spices, such as fennel, coriander, citrus and anise.

In Germany, the word schnaps can refer to any strong, clear alcoholic beverage that is distilled from fermented fruit must. The name is not limited to the country and numerous other German-speaking countries and regions (Switzerland and Austria, for instance also regularly refer to eaux-de-vie as "schnaps").

Originating in Germany, real schnaps (spelled with just one "p") are made by fermenting fruit juices and the base liquor. These are fruit brandies, or eau de vie, and a strong, often clear, distilled spirit, much like a lightly-flavored vodka.

Jägermeister is a type of liqueur called Kräuterlikör (herbal liqueur).

Drinking Schnapps Neat

Schnapps are usually enjoyed after dinner with many of them flavourful enough to enjoy on their own. In Germany, it's common to take a shot of schnapps after dinner to aid digestion.

What is an example of a schnapps? ›

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.

Many different types of liquor can be used for shots, but rum is often a great choice. Rum has a sweet, smooth flavor that can be enjoyed by everyone. It's also relatively inexpensive, making it a great option for budget-minded drinkers.

What does aquavit taste like? Traditional aquavits from Norway and Denmark in particular are usually quite heavily influenced by herbs and spices like caraway, fennel, and anise seeds, which makes them quite strong and spicy.

Hakan says that traditionally, there's one way to drink aquavit: straight. “Growing up in Sweden, it would be heresy to mix it up into co*cktails,” he said. But when he opened Aquavit, he saw people sipping, not shooting, and trying it mixed with all kinds of different things.

Referred to as brännvin in Sweden, schnapps (or snaps) is the country's preferred distilled liquor from potatoes or grains.