Crystal Clear: 14 Schnaps Bottles to Try

By Matt Gross

St. George Spirits

Aqua Perfecta Framboise Eau-de-Vie (right)($40; 375 ml) St. George is a microdistiller based in Alameda, California, and its raspberry schnaps is a bright, round swirl of berries that leaves a slightly syrupy flavor under your tongue.

Aqua Perfecta Basil Eau-de-Vie (left) ($40; 375 ml) Made by distilling a combination of basil and grape brandy, this spirit is grassy and piney, with the minty undertones of fresh Thai basil. Consider it a cocktail component.

Warwick Valley American Fruits

Pear ($29; 375 ml) Unrefined and charmingly astringent, this is a throw-back to the rustic fruit brandies of days gone by. Its small-batch distiller, in upstate New York, uses local fruit for all of its distillations.

Clear Creek Distillery

Kirschwasser (left) ($28; 375 ml) Some of the best American schnaps comes from Oregon fruit grower and distiller Stephen McCarthy. This version has the aroma of cherry candy (in a good way) and a tart, slightly medicinal bite.

Williams Pear (right) ($25; 375 ml) This juicy-tasting schnaps smells of fruit so ripe it's ready to burst, but tastes of leaves, stems, and aromatic oils that leave a long, delightfully.