Schnapps Appreciation: The Austrian Way

Schnapps is a distilled alcoholic drink that is popular in Austria. Austrians rarely mix their schnapps into cocktails, instead, they drink it straight from the bottle or in shots. Schnapps is typically consumed before, during, or after a meal to aid digestion. The drink is made from fruits, herbs, and spices, and has a unique flavour. The alcohol content of Austrian schnapps is typically above 40%, and the drink is often associated with medicinal qualities. Austrians have been perfecting the drink for centuries, and it is an integral part of the country's drinking culture.

Austrians drink it straight, or as a shot

Austrians have a strong drinking culture, and Schnapps is their national drink. Austrians rarely mix their Schnapps into cocktails but instead drink it straight out of the bottle or in shot form. They commonly drink Schnapps before, during, or after a meal to aid digestion. It is also used for medicinal purposes.

Schnapps is a general name for distilled fruit brandies in Austria, and the country has been perfecting the drink for centuries with many different recipes. The most popular types of Schnapps are made from different kinds of fruit, often referred to as "Obstler". This comes from the German word "Obst", meaning fruit. Schnapps can be made from any fruit, but the most popular varieties include apples, plums, cherries, and apricots. Austrians also make Zirbenschnaps, a type of Schnapps made from pinecones, which is often found in alpine countries.

The distillation of Schnapps became widespread in Austria in the 18th century due to the invention of the copper pot, which made the distillation process easy. During the harvest season, a communal mobile pot was transported by horse and cart for households to share. Schnapps is also popular for its unique flavour and the culture of consumption surrounding it. There are thousands of distilleries across the country, both privately and publicly owned.

The word Schnapps comes from the German word "Schnappen", meaning "snap", which refers to the spirit usually being consumed in a quick slug from a small glass, i.e. a shot glass. The English language uses the word Schnapps as a general term for fruit brandies, herbal infusions, or flavoured liqueurs, but in German, it refers to strong spirits in general.

It's used to aid digestion

Austrians have been perfecting the art of making schnapps for centuries. Schnapps is a general name for distilled fruit brandies in Austria, and the country has an ideal blend of cold weather and sunshine to produce fruits high in acidity and aroma. The alcohol content of Austrian schnapps is typically above 40% ABV, and it is often consumed to aid digestion after a meal.

Schnapps is usually drunk straight from the bottle or in shot form in Austria. It is considered a digestif, traditionally served at room temperature in a small tulip or copita nosing glass. Austrians often drink schnapps before, during, or after a meal to help the stomach digest food. If you ate a little too much at dinner, it is customary to take a shot of schnapps.

The tradition of drinking schnapps as a digestif is not limited to Austria. In Germany, for example, Kräuterlikör (herbal liqueur) is a traditional digestif that is believed to have medicinal properties due to the blend of bitter herbs and spices it contains.

The practice of drinking schnapps for medicinal purposes dates back to the 18th century when most undistilled water could lead to illness. Austrians began converting fruits into alcohol, taking advantage of the country's abundance of fruits that thrive in the cold, sunny climate. The invention of the copper pot during this time also played a crucial role in the widespread distillation of schnapps.

It's made from distilled fruit

Austrian schnapps is made from distilled fruit. It is a strong and often clear distilled spirit, tasting similar to a light-flavoured vodka. The process of making schnapps is very close to that of moonshine. However, there are a few differences in the two processes. After the fruits have been harvested, they are seeded and mashed. Home-brewers do not wash the fruits as this takes away the natural yeast needed to ferment the fruits. Once the fruit starts to ferment, they add several litres of water to the mixture. The liquid is then moved to an air-locked pot and placed in a warm area.

The distillation of schnapps became widespread in the 18th century due to the invention of the copper pot. These pots made the distillation process easy. During the harvest season, a communal mobile pot would be transported by horse and cart for households to share. Schnapps is a general name for distilled fruit brandies in Austria. Austrians have been perfecting the drink for centuries with many different recipes. The most popular types of schnapps are made from different kinds of fruit, often referred to as "Obstler", which comes from the German word "Obst", meaning fruit.

In Austria, schnapps is the favourite go-to beverage, much like vodka is in Russia. Schnapps has high alcohol levels of 30% or higher, yet it surprises many people with its smooth and good flavour. Austria has the perfect blend of cold weather and sunshine to produce fruits high in acidity and aroma. Most fruits in Austria do not possess a sugary sweetness when in a non-distilled state. Schnapps is made from a variety of fruits, including apples, pears, plums, cherries, and apricots. Austrians traditionally produced schnapps from the surplus fruit harvest as a way to preserve fruits and create a beverage for personal consumption and local trade.

In the Austrian countryside, especially in regions with a strong agricultural focus, families traditionally made schnapps. Schnapps is one of those things that unify German-speaking Germany and Austria, but each has its own distinctive flavours. If there is one variety of Austrian schnapps that is considered "the one", it's Marillenschnapps, a fruit brandy made from apricots. Austrians rarely mix their schnapps into cocktails but instead drink it straight out of the bottle or in shot form. They commonly drink schnapps before, during, or after a meal to aid digestion.

It has a high alcohol content

Austrian schnapps is a distilled spirit with a high alcohol content, typically 30% or higher. The drink is made by fermenting and distilling fruit, and the process is similar to that of moonshine. The high alcohol content is due to the use of neutral grain spirits, which are distilled and then infused with fruit syrups, spices, or artificial flavourings.

Schnapps is typically consumed in small glasses, often straight from the bottle or in shot form, as per the German term "schnappen", meaning "snap". Austrians often drink schnapps before, during, or after a meal to aid digestion. The drink is also used in toasts, where it is customary to make eye contact and wish each other "Prost", "Prosit", or "Zum Wohl", which all translate to "health".

The production of schnapps in Austria has a long history, with the Ancient Romans bringing the art of fruit cultivation to the region. The distillation of schnapps became widespread in the 18th century with the invention of the copper pot, making the process more accessible. Maria Theresa, the sole female Empress of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, also contributed to its popularity by legalising the production of up to 200 litres of distilled alcohol per household annually, recognising its potential for generating revenue.

Today, Austrian schnapps is known for its smooth and good flavour, capturing the essence of peak-season fruits. The alcohol content, while high, is balanced by the fruit, resulting in a drink that is surprisingly palatable despite its strength.

It's popular in beer gardens

Schnapps is a popular drink in Austrian beer gardens, which are frequented by locals in the warmer months from May to October. Beer gardens are an addition to many Austrian bars, and the country has a strong drinking culture.

Schnapps is a general name for distilled fruit brandies in Austria, and Austrians have been perfecting the drink for centuries with many different recipes. The most popular types of schnapps are made from different kinds of fruits, often referred to as "Obstler". The word "Obstler" comes from the German word "Obst", meaning fruit. Schnapps is typically consumed in small glasses, and Austrians usually drink it straight from the bottle or in shot form.

Austria has the perfect blend of cold weather and sunshine to produce fruits high in acidity and aroma. The Ancient Romans brought the art of fruit cultivation to Austria, where fruits could easily grow in the Alpine regions. Austrians take advantage of the bounty of nature in this area, including apples, berries, pears, plums, and cherries. The production of schnapps is, therefore, a year-round endeavour, as different fruits mature at different times of the year.

In addition to its beer gardens, Austria has thousands of breweries and distilleries scattered throughout the country. The country also has many areas that are popular for their vineyards, including Upper Austria, Burgenland, the south of Styria, and Carinthia.

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