Snaps
 | This article possibly contains original research. (September 2007) |
A snaps (pronounced /SHNAHPS/ —) is a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden and Denmark. This ritual has been described by one author as follows:
A group of people are clustered around a table for a typical lunch that will include several courses and a clear, fiery drink. The host pours the ice-cold liquid into frosty, conical glasses with long stems. He raises his glasss, at which point the diners turn to one another and make eye contact, making certain not to leave anyone out. “Skål!” calls out the host, and everyone takes a sip. Again there is eye contact, and then the glasses are set on the table, not to be lifted again until the host raises his. The liquid is aquavit. The ritual is virtually the same throughout Scandinavia.[1]
A snaps is usually akvavit, vodka, or some other kind of brännvin. Spirits such as whisky or brandy are seldom drunk as snaps.
The word “snaps” also has the same meaning as the German word “Schnaps,” in the sense of “any strong alcoholic drink.”[2]
Culture
Danes, Swedes, and Swedish-speaking Finns have a tradition of singing songs, drikkeviser/snapsvisor, before drinking snaps. The drikkevise/snapsvisa is typically an ode to the joys of snaps and praises its flavour, or expresses a craving for the drink.
Snaps (and drikkeviser/snapsvisor) are an inseparable part of crayfish parties, which are notoriously tipsy affairs, even by Swedish and Finnish standards. This is not a surprise, since dozens of songs might be sung during such a meal, and every song demands a round of snaps. However, the glass does not need to be emptied every time and it is recommended not to drink the snaps too fast. An entrée consisting of sild/sill (pickled herring) and potatoes is most typically served with snaps, as is also the infamous Swedish surströmming. This heritage comes from the brännvinsbord, an archaic Swedish entrée.
Home liquor production in Scandinavia.
Distilling snaps is illegal in Scandinavian countries, unless reported and approved by tax authorities.
Illegal home distilling was earlier a widespread tradition in Denmark, but today it is very limited. In many rural communities of Norway and Sweden, however, distilling is still a tradition.
A tradition of “home flavouring” snaps exists in Scandinavia. This tradition is strongest in the southern areas, particularly Denmark. A snaps enthusiast will typically buy a commercially made, neutral-tasting snaps, and then add flavour to it by adding herbs found in nature or grown in a garden. For instance, in northern Denmark, various spices are added to snaps to produce a version called “bjesk,” which means “bitter.”
Popular flavours for home flavouring include Blackthorn, Bog-myrtle, Dill, Persian Walnut , St. John’s Wort, Woodruff, and Wormwood. The herbs are commonly used singly, but some enthusiasts experiment with mixing them to achieve “the perfect flavour.”
See also
References
- ^ Blue, Anthony Dias (2004). The Complete Book of Spirits: A Guide to Their History, Production, and Enjoyment. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 42. ISBN 0-06-054218-7.
- ^ Haugen, Einar (1965). Norwegian-English Dictionary. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) The definition given is “nip, schnaps; shot (of brandy,
aquavit, etc.).”