Headspace solid‐phase micro extraction coupled to comprehensive two‐dimensional with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry applied to the evaluation of Nebbiolo‐based wine volatile aroma during ageing

This study presents the application of a headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) method on the analysis of Nebbiolo‐based wine volatiles by comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF‐MS). The aroma patterns were established for different samples of Nebbiolo‐based wines, aged in oak wood barrels for 18 months at constant temperature. The methodology allowed for the simultaneous analysis of over 130 different volatile compounds detected in the headspace. The odour activity values (OAVs) were assessed to identify potentially important odorants of Nebbiolo‐based wine during ageing. The highest OAVs were obtained for several compounds such as ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, β‐damascenone, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl 3‐methylbutanate and acetaldehyde. Ethyl butanoate, octanoic acid, ethyl dihydrocinnamate and γ‐nonalactone were also at concentrations higher than their corresponding threshold. Also vanillin, (E)‐whisky lactone, (Z)‐whisky lactone, guaiacol and 4‐ethyl guaiacol seem to be important odorants after oak wood ageing period.     

Sensory and Chemical Analysis of ‘Shackleton's’ Mackinlay Scotch Whisky

Three cases of Mackinlay's Rare Highland Malt whisky were excavated from the ice under Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1907 expedition base camp hut at Cape Royds in Antarctica in January 2010. The majority of the bottles were in a pristine state of preservation and three were returned to Scotland in January 2011 for the first sensory and organoleptic analysis of a Scotch malt whisky distilled in the late 1890s. Sensory analysis and the higher alcohol and maturation congener profiles describe a lightly peated malt whisky matured in American white oak sherry or wine casks. Analysis of process related compounds together with combined gas chromatography (GC) mass spectrometry and GC‐olfactometry analysis of fermentation related congeners show a distinctly ‘modern’ style of malt whisky. While Scotch malt whisky at the end of the 19th century was generally regarded as heavily peated and harsh in character, Charles Mackinlay & Co. Distillers were producing a malt whisky with an altogether more subtle character at their Glen Mhor distillery near Inverness. The sensory and chemical analysis of this unique whisky artefact significantly changes our understanding of the quality and character of Scotch malt whisky produced by our distilling forefathers.     

PERCEPTION OF HETEROCYCLIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN MATURE WHISKY

Standard solutions of N-heterocyclic compounds in ethanol are extracted with pentane at a range of pHs. Pentane extractions are also performed on N-heterocyclic standards in ethanol with addition of Limousin Oak extract at a range of concentrations. The effects observed on extraction are collated with sensory assessments. The results obtained would suggest that pyridines are absent from the aroma of a mature whisky due to its acidity, and that interaction with wood constituents in the cask does not occur.     

藤茶感官特征定量描述分析与风味轮构建

采用感官定量描述分析法研究藤茶的感官风味特征,并绘制藤茶风味轮。研究结果表明,经培训的评茶小组确定了藤茶的5个外形描述词、5个汤色描述词、7个香气描述词、10个滋味描述词及其定义,之后通过方差分析(P<0.05)结合主成分分析(贡献率>80%),确定所列的27个藤茶感官描述词均可较好评价藤茶样品的感官品质,结合聚类分析进一步得出胶质感、鲜黄、草香、木香、槟榔香、花香、甘甜、回甘、清爽、刺喉感、粗钝感及生津是区分藤茶品质的主要感官特征属性,同时绘制出直观反映藤茶感官特征的风味轮。该研究为了解藤茶的风味品质及开发应用提供参考。     

Effect of koji fermentation on generation of volatile compounds in soy sauce production

The generation of aroma compounds and the changes in sensory characteristics through the soy sauce koji fermentation were investigated to evaluate the crucial impact of the koji fermentation on soy sauce aroma. The sensory analysis showed a marked increase in ‘musty’ and ‘soy sauce‐like’ odours, whereas the beany attribute decreased significantly during koji fermentation. Aldehydes and alcohols were the major volatile classes present in the koji samples. Gas chromatography–olfactometry was used to identify the aroma‐active compounds in harvested koji, and the results showed that 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐octanol, (E)‐2‐octenal, di‐epi‐α‐cedrene, benzeneacetaldehyde and 3‐(methylthio)‐propanal exhibited the greatest aroma intensities in harvest koji. Moreover, relative contents of (E)‐2‐octenal, benzeneacetaldehyde, 3‐(methylthio)‐propanal and 2‐phenylpropenal were found to be positively related to ‘musty’ and ‘soy sauce‐like’ odours. Results from principal component analysis showed that the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus oryzae had the important impacts on the volatile evolution.     

Volatile aroma components of Australian port wines

The volatile aroma compositions of a blended port wine, having an equivalent age of 20 years, and a 100-year-old port wine were examined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds identified were products of yeast fermentation, acetalisation, esterification and oxidation reactions occurring during storage, carbohydrate degradation (of residual grape sugar and wood hemi-celluloses) and wood extraction. High concentrations of ethyl lactate, diethyl succinate and diethyl malate were found relative to quantities present in young wine. 1-Ethoxy-1-(3-methylbutoxy)ethane, 1-ethoxy-1-(2-methylbutoxy)ethane, 1,1-diethoxypropan-2-one, cis-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,3-dioxane and cis-4-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane were identified. The presence of these and other acetals demonstrated that carbonyl compounds were also present. Carbonyl compounds are likely to contribute to the ‘rancio’ flavour of these port wines. Carbohydrate-derived compounds found included furfural, 2-acetylfuran, 5-methylfurfural, ethyl laevulinate, ethyl furoate and 5-ethoxymethyl furfural. Oak lactone, which is a wood extractive, was also identified and is likely to contribute to the woody aroma distinguishable in these port wines.     

Identification of chemical markers for the sensory shelf-life of saveloy

The aroma composition, the microbial composition and the sensory profile were measured in sliced saveloy samples packed in modified atmosphere (MA). The main objective was to identify aroma compounds with potential as chemical markers to identify the sensory changes of saveloy. The 60 aroma compounds isolated from the saveloy samples by dynamic headspace extraction and measured by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to model the sensory attributes sour&old odour and meaty odour using partial least squares regression (PLS). 2- and 3-methylbutanal, 2- and 3-methylbutanol, acetoin and diacetyl were found to have the highest impact on both sour&old odour and meaty odour of the samples. The results show that these four aroma compounds have high potential as chemical markers for the sensory shelf-life of sliced and MA-packed saveloy.