Schnapps

Discover schnaps selected by the chefs and sommeliers of Michelin-starred restaurants. A selection by credible and legitimate professionals to help you find your favourite schnaps.

We guide you towards the most attractive commercial and promotional offers online. You can buy the best schnaps with complete confidence thanks to a reliable and impartial reference.

Best schnaps

With Bestwine • Online, the reference for the best schnaps:

Taste one of the best schnaps. Enrich your bar or cellar with a prestigious bottle of schnaps. Find the restaurants where you can taste rare schnaps references. Discover all the information needed to better understand schnaps and its specificities, and easily choose your brand or bottle.

Best schnaps brands

Refer to the opinions of chefs, sommeliers and bartenders of Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide to discover the best schnaps brands. A ranking and comparison of the most highly valued schnaps brands and bottles in Michelin-starred restaurants by experts in haute cuisine.

Schnaps brand | Schnaps flavour | Schnaps origin | Schnaps alcohol content Schnaps suggested by the chefs, sommeliers and bartenders of Michelin-starred restaurants

Schnaps

Definition of schnaps: schnaps is a Germanic eau-de-vie produced from grains, roots or fruits. The majority of schnaps today are produced from fruits. Schnaps can be made from apples, pears, peaches, apricots, damson plums, sorb apples, cherries, plums, mirabelles, blackcurrants, raspberries, blackberries or mint. Generally, schnaps is produced from fresh stone fruits or pome fruits. To produce schnaps, the entire fruit is preserved, including the flesh, the skin and the stone.

The production of schnaps

Schnaps is therefore an alcoholic beverage obtained through distillation from the fermentation of a mixture of fresh fruits. The fruits are placed in casks for several months to ferment, then this liquid is run through a still to be distilled. The best schnaps may be distilled twice to amplify the concentration of aromas. Finally, water is generally added to the schnaps to adjust its alcohol content, and the spirit is left to rest for several months in casks or directly in the bottle. It is worth noting that vintage schnaps are very rare.

In the past, there were schnapseurs whose trade was producing schnaps. These individuals went from farm to farm with their stills so peasants could produce their own schnaps from their harvests.

There is currently no regulation defining schnaps. Likewise, the name "schnaps" is not protected. Some types of schnaps are protected, such as Swiss kirsch and kirsch from Fougerolles.

There are several types of schnaps named after the terms from which they originate:

Quetsch or Quetschel refers to a schnaps made from damson plums. Kirsch or Kirschwasser refers to a schnaps made from cherries. Steinhäger from Westphalia is a schnaps made from potato flavoured with juniper berries.

Schnaps originates from Germany. Indeed, the word schnaps comes from the term "Schnàps" which derives from Rhine Franconian. "Schnàps" literally means eau-de-vie. Culturally, schnaps is consumed in Germanic regions such as Germany, Austria, Luxembourg or Switzerland. In France, schnaps is consumed mainly in Lorraine and Alsace, two regions bordering Germany. Schnaps is also consumed in Denmark and Sweden. In these two countries, schnaps is called snaps.

Schnaps is similar to vodka, an eau-de-vie consumed in Eastern countries such as Russia or Poland. Schnaps differs from vodka, however, by its more fruity taste. Schnaps is therefore an excellent alternative to vodka. It is worth noting that some regional dishes are traditionally served with schnaps, such as the regional dishes of Westphalia.

There are also similarities between schnaps and gin, since gin is an eau-de-vie produced from juniper. Both gin and Westphalian Steinhäger are made with juniper.

The specificities of schnaps

Schnaps is a highly fragrant alcoholic beverage that offers roundness and finesse. Depending on the references and brands of schnaps, the aromas and flavours can be varied. Logically, schnaps develop the flavours of the fruits from which they were produced. Schnaps appeals to lovers of traditional eau-de-vie in Michelin-starred restaurants. Schnaps references and brands can be found in many French and German fine-dining restaurants, as well as around the world. Some chefs also cook their dishes with schnaps. It is even possible to flavour jam with schnaps.

Schnaps is enjoyed as an aperitif or as a digestif. Schnaps can be tasted at room temperature or chilled when taken from the refrigerator. Bartenders at Michelin-starred restaurants also offer cocktails based on schnaps, such as the After Five or the Fifth Avenue.

For a great schnaps at the best price

Schnaps is a spirit from the Germanic terroir found in many countries. A popular alcoholic beverage, schnaps aims to be an accessible drink. Schnaps deserves to be known. With Bestwine • Online, I want to allow the greatest number of consumers to discover schnaps and appreciate its authenticity. Less well known than vodka or gin, schnaps is nevertheless a true delight. There are very few schnaps experts and specialists. Bestwine • Online gives you all the advice needed to choose your schnaps.

There are exceptional schnaps references and many schnaps brands on the market. Bestwine • Online aims to help you distinguish the best schnaps by drawing on the know-how and experience of the chefs, sommeliers and bartenders of Michelin-starred restaurants. Each person has their own tastes and desires. Bestwine • Online lets you select the very best in schnaps so you can taste the finest schnaps brands and bottles.

An authentic ranking and comparison to choose schnaps

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The selection of premium schnaps

How are schnaps selected on Bestwine • Online? Bestwine • Online lists the schnaps featured on the wine lists and in the cellars of the most famous and recognised fine-dining restaurants around the world. Schnaps references championed by the greatest chefs and sommeliers in gastronomy, themselves valued by critics. Only schnaps references sold online are presented to you so you can buy them easily.

How is the best schnaps reference updated? The best schnaps reference is updated daily, integrating new references that come from the wine lists of fine-dining restaurants made available to us. Likewise, we update commercial and promotional offers so you can buy a quality schnaps online at the best price. We are committed to presenting only schnaps references from the wine lists of award-winning fine-dining restaurants.