Direct Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Fusel Alcohols, Fatty Acids and Esters of Distilled Alcoholic Beverages

A gas chromatographic method is proposed for the quantitative determination of the main volatile components of distilled alcoholic beverages such as whisky, brandy and rum. This gas chromatographic method enables direct analysis of 23 volatile components, 5 alcohols, 4 acids, 11 esters and 3 aldehydes by simply mixing a beverage sample with internal standards. A fused silica crosslinked 5% phenymethyl silicone capillary column (50 m × 0.31 mm i.d.) is used. The accuracy of the analysis is satisfactory, with the within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation for most compounds being less than 10%, and the entire procedure can be completed in 40 min.