Authentication and differentiation of Irish whiskeys by higher-alcohol congener analysis

Four higher alcohols, namely, 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-b utanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol, selected as chemical descriptors, were deter mined by head space gas chromatography. Fifty eight samples of commercializ ed whiskeys consisting of 12 samples of irish whiskey, 20 samples of bourbo n whiskey and 26 samples of single mall scotch whiskey were analyzed for th eir content in higher alcohols. The use of straightforward chemometric proc edures showed that irish whiskeys are well characterized by the four higher alcohols and can be easily differentiated from other whiskeys. (C) 1999 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.