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The soju (Korean traditional distilled liquor) market is increasing worldwide. However, in contrast to well-explored distilled liquors, including baijiu (China) and shochu (Japan), soju is less investigated, with limited research on its aroma characteristics. To facilitate better understanding of the aroma characteristics of soju, this study aims to overview recent research on the flavor characteristics of soju and compare data with those of baijiu and shochu, well-established products in the market. Soju is generally made using rice and nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter). Previous studies have reflected that the aroma characteristics vary with raw materials' nutrition percentages, microbial taxa influenced in fermentation starters, and/or pressure reduction during distillation. The research on the aroma characteristics of baijiu, characterized by solid-state fermentation involving qu (a traditional Chinese fermentation starter), is focused on differences in regional characteristics of the flavor type. Research on the aroma characteristics of shochu has primarily demonstrated that the microbial community could contribute significantly to the development of specific aromatic compounds and/or attributes. Moreover, the association of the aroma characteristics of baijiu and shochu with their volatile compound development by the determination of selective ingredients has been examined. Understanding the current research progress can potentially facilitate the improvement in the aroma characteristics of soju. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soju (Korean traditional distilled liquor) market is increasing worldwide. However, in contrast to well-explored distilled liquors, including baijiu (China) and shochu (Japan), soju is less investigated, with limited research on its aroma characteristics. To facilitate better understanding of the aroma characteristics of soju, this study aims to overview recent research on the flavor characteristics of soju and compare data with those of baijiu and shochu, well-established products in the market. Soju is generally made using rice and nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter). Previous studies have reflected that the aroma characteristics vary with raw materials’ nutrition percentages, microbial taxa influenced in fermentation starters, and/or pressure reduction during distillation. The research on the aroma characteristics of baijiu, characterized by solid-state fermentation involving qu (a traditional Chinese fermentation starter), is focused on differences in regional characteristics of the flavor type. Research on the aroma characteristics of shochu has primarily demonstrated that the microbial community could contribute significantly to the development of specific aromatic compounds and/or attributes. Moreover, the association of the aroma characteristics of baijiu and shochu with their volatile compound development by the determination of selective ingredients has been examined. Understanding the current research progress can potentially facilitate the improvement in the aroma characteristics of soju.

The volatile compounds and sensory profiles of 18 different types of distilled soju, chosen with regard to various raw materials and distillation methods (atmospheric vs. vacuum), were explored using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and descriptive analysis. General chemical properties such as pH, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (°Brix), and lactic acid concentration were also determined. A total of 56 volatile compounds, comprising 31 esters, 11 alcohols, 1 acid, 4 aldehydes, 3 ketones, and 6 miscellaneous compounds, were identified. From the principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile data, samples made using atmospheric distillation such as MSO and PJU showed a clear difference from decompressed distillation samples. Based on the PCA of the sensory data, there was also a clear distinction between samples by their distillation method. To explore relationships among chemical, volatile, and sensory data sets, multiple factor analysis (MFA) was applied. Yeasty and earthy flavors showed a close relationship with 1-nonanol, octatonic acid, and longer-chain esters such as ethyl phenylacetate and ethyl tetradecanoate, and with chemical parameters such as TA, °Brix, and lactic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile compositions and sensory characteristics of 11 commercially distilled soju samples were investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and sensory descriptive analysis. A total of 59 major volatile compounds, consisting of 32 esters, 10 alcohols, 2 acids, 5 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 1 hydrocarbon, 1 furan, 2 phenols, and 3 miscellaneous compounds, were identified. From the principal component analysis (PCA) of volatile data, MSJ made by atmospheric distillation showed a clear distinction in volatile compositions compared to that of other samples made by vacuum distillation. Based on PCA of the sensory data determined by a panel of ten judges, MSJ was associated with a large amount of longer chain esters that showed high intensities in bitter taste and yeast/nuruk-related flavor attributes. HYJ, LPJ, and HAJ made with rice as a raw material were associated with lower intensities of the alcohol aroma, while JRJ and OKJ aged in oak barrels were associated with fruit flavor, sweet flavor, and brandy aroma. In the partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis to see any relationship between volatile and sensory data, longer chain esters like ethyl tetradecanoate, and ethyl hexadecanoate were highly associated with bleach aroma. In contrast, positive correlations were seen with barley aroma and yeast flavor with hexanal, nonanal, benzaldehyde, and 2-methoxy-phenol.

In this study, the composition of minerals was analyzed in ginseng, ginseng-Yakju, and ginseng-Soju. Ginseng-Yakju was fermented using sliced or powdered ginseng (0.2%, w/v) and steamed rice, while ginseng-Soju was prepared by extracting ginseng with 15 times the volume of Soju (35% ethanol, v/v) for 5 years. Regardless of the different forms of ginseng (sliced or powdered), the normal Yakju, Yakju fermented with slices of ginseng (Yakju-SG), and Yakju fermented with powdered ginseng (Yakju-PG) had similar soluble solid concentration, pH, ethanol concentration, and acidity. However, ginseng-Yakju and ginseng-Soju differed significantly with respect to all physicochemical characteristics tested (p < 0.01). Mineral content was found in the following order: K > P > Ca > Mg > Si > Se in ginseng, P > K > Mg > Ca > Si > Se in ginseng-Yakju, and K > P > Mg > Ca > Si > Se in ginseng-Soju. According to the mineral content determined by the recovery yield, it is not appropriate to consume ginseng-Yakju and ginseng-Soju for effective intake of minerals from ginseng. Therefore, further studies on improving the bioavailability of ginseng-derived minerals are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial and lab-brewed takju had the similar silicon (Si) contents, which were approximately 6.8 and 7.7 mg/L takju, respectively. Lab-brewed takju had approximately 7.7 mg/L of Si, which was 27.9% recovery of Si in all materials for brewing. Otherwise, lab-brewed wine showed approximately 10.4 mg/L of Si, which was 67.7% recovery. The Si contents of lab-brewed wine were approximately 10.4 mg/L wine, which was approximately 135% of average Si contents of lab-brewed takju. Commercial soju contained approximately 3.99 mg/L of Si, which was 38% of Si contents of brewed wine. It was investigated that men and women ingest approximately 1,400 and 186 μg/day (average value) of Si through soju. This study will help to estimate the Si intake amount through alcoholic beverages ingestion, based on Si contents in Korean traditional wines, such as takju, soju, and wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile compositions and sensory characteristics of 11 commercially distilled soju samples were investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and sensory descriptive analysis. A total of 59 major volatile compounds, consisting of 32 esters, 10 alcohols, 2 acids, 5 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 1 hydrocarbon, 1 furan, 2 phenols, and 3 miscellaneous compounds, were identified. From the principal component analysis (PCA) of volatile data, MSJ made by atmospheric distillation showed a clear distinction in volatile compositions compared to that of other samples made by vacuum distillation. Based on PCA of the sensory data determined by a panel of ten judges, MSJ was associated with a large amount of longer chain esters that showed high intensities in bitter taste and yeast/nuruk-related flavor attributes. HYJ, LPJ, and HAJ made with rice as a raw material were associated with lower intensities of the alcohol aroma, while JRJ and OKJ aged in oak barrels were associated with fruit flavor, sweet flavor, and brandy aroma. In the partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis to see any relationship between volatile and sensory data, longer chain esters like ethyl tetradecanoate, and ethyl hexadecanoate were highly associated with bleach aroma. In contrast, positive correlations were seen with barley aroma and yeast flavor with hexanal, nonanal, benzaldehyde, and 2-methoxy-phenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: To investigate the association between the type of preferred alcoholic beverage and drinking pattern and health characteristics., Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted from 22 April to 3 May in 2002. 301 females and 699 males aged 13 to 59 were personally interviewed. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, drinking pattern and health characteristics were collected. 735 drinkers who were 19 year-old or over were included in analysis. Beverage preference was classified 3 categories: Beer drinker, wine drinker (including wine, makguly, chungju and yakju) and soju drinker (including soju and spirits)., Results: Beer drinkers were likely to be females. Compared to wine or soju drinkers, beer drinkers were less frequently drank, and consumed less total alcohol per week and less alcohol per 1 drinking among both male and female. Controlling for various confounders, beer drinker had significantly less total alcohol consumption per week, and alcohol consumption per 1 drinking than wine and soju drinker., Conclusions: Beer drinking were associated with less smoking in males and healthy drinking pattern in both gender than soju drinking.