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Spirits have proliferated and become an indispensable part of most gastronomic cultures around the world. The production and consumption of fruit brandies, especially plum and grape brandies as well as pear and apple brandies, have a long tradition in the countries of Southeast Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate 47 fruit brandies produced in small distilleries and industrial plants from five countries. The content of the most common volatile compounds (methanol, higher alcohols and fatty acid esters) and the sensory quality of the fruit brandies were analysed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the concentrations of the main volatile compounds in the spirit samples and sensory evaluation to identify similarities or differences between the spirit samples based on distillery size. The methanol concentration in all samples was below the EU legal limit. Methanol concentration was highest in Williams pear spirits and lowest in grape pomace spirits. The PCA sample distribution confirms the good quality of samples from both small distilleries (SD) and industrial plants (IP), with some exceptions - samples with identified defects produced in some small distilleries. The results of the sensory evaluation show high sensory quality of fruit spirits from this part of Europe.

Alkoholna pića su postala neizostavni dio većine gastronomskih kultura širom svijeta. Proizvodnja i potrošnja voćnih rakija, posebno rakija od šljiva i grožđa, kao i rakija od krušaka i jabuka, imaju dugu tradiciju u zemljama jugoistočne Europe. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti 47 voćnih rakija proizvedenih u malim destilerijama i industrijskim pogonima iz pet zemalja. Analiziran je sadržaj najčešćih hlapljivih spojeva (viši alkoholi, esteri masnih kiselina i metanol) te senzorna kvaliteta voćnih rakija. Kako bi se utvrdile sličnosti ili razlike između uzoraka alkoholnih pića na temelju veličine destilerije provedena je analiza glavnih komponenata (PCA) korištenjem koncentracija glavnih hlapljivih spojeva u uzorcima alkoholnih pića te senzorna procjena. Koncentracija metanola u svim uzorcima bila je ispod zakonske granice EU-a. Koncentracija metanola bila je najviša u rakijama od kruške Williams, a najniža u rakijama od grožđa. Distribucija uzoraka PCA potvrđuje dobru kvalitetu uzoraka iz malih destilerija (SD) i iz industrijskih postrojenja (IP), uz neke iznimke pojedinih uzoraka s utvrđenim nedostacima proizvedenih u nekim malim destilerijama. Rezultati senzorne evaluacije pokazuju visoku senzornu kvalitetu voćnih alkoholnih pića iz ovog dijela Europe.

The chemical and sensorial characteristics of cherry brandy produced from five cherry varieties (Oblacinska, Celery’s 16, Rexle, Heiman’s Ruby and Heiman’s Conserve) grown in Serbia were studied. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of these distillates led to the identification of 32 components, including 20 esters, benzaldehyde, 6 terpenes and 5 acids. The ethyl esters of C8–C18 acids were the most abundant in all samples. The benzaldehyde content was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The average benzaldehyde concentration in the samples ranged between 2.1 and 24.1 mg L-1. The total sensory scores of the cherry brandies ranged between 17.30 to 18.05, with the cherry brandy produced from the Celery’s 16 variety receiving the highest score (18.05).

In this study, volatile compounds were analyzed in five samples of home-made spirit beverage made by the distillation of fermented fruits of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.). The major volatile compounds, besides ethanol, identified and quantified were: methanol, acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, ethyl acetate, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-butanol, amyl alcohols, 1-hexanol and 2-phenylethanol. The minor volatiles were submitted to liquid–liquid extraction with dichloromethane and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/ /mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 84 compounds were identified. The most abundant compounds were straight-chain free fatty acids, ethyl esters of C6–C18 acids, limonene, 2-phenylethanol and 4-ethylphenol. Most of the compounds found in the “Drenja” spirits investigated in this study are similar to those present in other alcoholic beverages.

Gas chromatography and GC/MS methods were used to detect volatile components of three home-made natural old plum brandy samples and one sample of industrially-produced plum brandy. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of this extracts led to the identification of 99 components, including 46 esters, 7 hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), 3 aldehydes, 9 alcohols, 1 lactone, 1 ketone, 8 acetals, 14 terpenes, 8 acids and 2 phenols. Ethyl esters of C8–C18 acids were the most abundant in all samples. In addition, the content of methanol, ethanol and higher alcohols C3–C5 was determined.

Chemical characteristics of fruit spirits produced from three black currant cultivars (Malling Juel, Ometa, Ben Sarek) and two red currant cultivars (Rondom and Versailles) grown in Serbia were examined using gas chromatography. In addition, sensory evaluation of the spirit samples was performed using the Buxbaum model of positive rating. Fruit spirits produced from black currant cultivars displayed the highest contents of methanol (267.2 - 595.0 g/hl A. A) and amyl alcohols (74.2 - 204.8 g/hl A. A). Total sensory scores of currant brandies ranged between 17.60 and 18.40, while currant brandy produced from Ben Sarek black currant cultivar received the highest score (18.40). All tested samples of currant brandies fulfilled EU requirements as regards their content of methanol and other components such as acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and high alcohols. The currant distillates were compared with other commercial spirits, including plum and grape brandies.

Resveratrol, which occurs in two isomeric forms, trans and cis, is a phytoalexin with numerous pharmacological activities, such as anti-cancer, antiviral, neuroprotective and anti-aging. Red wine is the main source of the compound and an easy way of including resveratrol in the human diet. In this study, the most popular commercial Serbian wines (red, white and rosé-type) were analyzed for their content of trans- and cis-resveratrol. The analysis was performed by HPLC with a UV detector. Prior to the injection, phenolic compounds were extracted onto a LiChrolut RP18 bonded silica cartridge. The concentration of trans-resveratrol ranged from 0.11 to 1.69 mg L-1 and cis-resveratrol from 0.12 to 1.49 mg L-1.