Most schnapps brands in North America use neutral grain-based alcohol as the base for their flavored liqueurs. Rye and wheat alcohol are more common, but the exact ingredients can vary pretty dramatically. Companies then add fruit, spices, or other flavorings to the spirit, allowing the ingredients to infuse together before bottling the final product. Interestingly, schnaps (notice the change in spelling) in Europe is a slightly different product. European schnapps are distilled from actual fruit juice (so essentially a brandy) and have a higher alcohol content (American-style schnapps have a lower ABV of around 15% to 20%, whereas the European brandies typically top 30% ABV).