Differentiation of bourbon whiskies using gas chromatography and cluster analysis

The practice of counterfeiting liquors in drinking establishments is common today. In order for a forensic scientist to help prevent this from occurri ng, a database of chromatographs must be compiled of all the: spirits avail able. In this study, five brands of bourbon were analyzed and cluster analy sis was applied to the gas chromatographic data. The cluster analysis showe d the least expensive brand and the most expensive brand to have the greate st differences, but the three other brands formed one large third group. Th ese groupings showed that one can distinguish one brand of bourbon from ano ther. This study should prove useful to consumers and distillers to help in the detection of counterfeit liquors.