Schnapps

Schnaps is a "strong alcoholic drink resembling gin and often flavored with fruit." The English word "schnapps" is derived from the German Schnaps (plural: Schnäpse). Schnaps is a Low German noun that means "swallow"; it has been documented in its High German meaning since before the 18th century. German Schnaps is a distilled eau de vie often flavored with fruits, more like a liquor. American Schnapps are also flavored with fruits, but are sweet, more like liqueurs.

German Schnaps

The German term Schnaps (not Schnapps) refers to any kind of strong alcoholic drink, similar to how eau de vie (water of life) is used in French, or aguardente (burning water) in Portuguese. If you start with fruit as a base, distill it, and bottle the result without aging it in wood for any extended period, you've got eaux-de-vie. These typically clear (but sometimes colored) liquors resemble vodka with subtle fruit notes, and are often served chilled in small glasses as digestifs. In Germany, this type of liquor is called Schnaps, but don’t confuse that with the syrupy-sweet, heavily-flavored stuff that gets labeled “Schnapps” in America. They’re effectively unrelated. 

In Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany, and the French region of Alsace, a type of schnapps called Obstler or Obstbrand (from the German Obst, fruit) is very popular. Obstler, which are fruit brandies, are 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 German schnapps are apples, pears, plums, cherries, and apricots. Fruits other than these five are rarely used. Apples are used along with pears to make Obstwasser (fruit water); pears are used to produce Poire Williams (Williamsbirne, William's pear); several types of plums make Zwetschgenwasser (plum water); cherries make Kirschwasser (cherry water); and apricots are used to make Austrian Marillenschnaps (apricot brandy).

A raspberry-flavored spirit called Himbeergeist (raspberry spirit) is also a schnapps, although it is not produced by means of fermenting raspberries (Himbeeren), which produce a low yield of alcohol due to their low sugar content. Instead, rectified spirit is infused with fresh raspberries, and this mixture is then distilled.

The different kinds of Obstler are similar to the varieties of Rakija found in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Another popular form of schnapps is Kräuterlikör (herbal liqueur), with known brands such as Jägermeister, Underberg, Kuemmerling, Killepitsch and Wurzelpeter.

American Schnapps

American schnapps are alcoholic beverages that are produced by mixing neutral grain spirit with fruit or other flavors. This mixture is then bottled with added sugar and (usually) glycerine, producing a smooth, syrup-like drink with an alcohol content of between 15% and 50% ABV (30–100 proof).

American schnapps is available in a broad variety of fruit, berry, and spice flavors. These drinks technically fall into the category of liqueurs because of their added sugar content.