Influence of wood on the chemical and sensory quality of the aged sugarcane spirit

Author(s)

Aline Marques Bortoletto

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2016-03-09

Examining board members

André Ricardo Alcarde; Mauricio Boscolo; Maria das Graças Cardoso; Joao Bosco Faria; Urgel de Almeida Lima

• Advisor: André Ricardo Alcarde

Abstract

The ageing process occurs with the storage of the product in wooden barrels for a period of time sufficient to happen specific reactions, which improves quality, and the sensory profile of the spirit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different woods in the chemical composition and sensory attributes of aged sugarcane spirits. The spirit was aged in new French oak barrels (Quercus petraea) and American oak (Quercus alba) with different wood toast intensity. The composition of alcohol, phenolic compounds, color intensity, glycerol, contaminants, volatile and maturation congeners afford to distinguish the two species of timber and characterization of the compounds development over two years of ageing.The type and origin of the oak wood, as well as the toast intensity influenced in of all congeners maturation. The degree of the spirit maturation could be estimate by comparing the evolution rate of the compounds studied in literature. It is suggested that the further evolution of the compounds was obtained within one year of aging, and French oak barrels with a medium toast allowed the better evolution of the counterparts to the formation of new compounds in the spirit. The descriptive sensory profile distinguished spirit aged in French oak barrels of medium and heavy toasted. Spirit aged in heavy toasted barrels received the most intense sensory descriptors in \"yellow\", \"spice aroma\", \"sweet scent\", \"velvety\" \"spicy\" and \"woody aftertaste\". It was tested the interaction of oak wood chips with spirit with and without aeration. The aeration process affected negatively the chemical and sensory quality of the spirits. However, interaction with chips promoted positive effect in the non-aerated spirits. It was tested the ageing process in 9 different Brazilian woods and oak barrels. Every wood promoted alterations in chemical composition and all the wood exerted influence on the quality of the beverage. Highlight positive was observed for spirit aged in oak barrels (Quercus sp), amburana (Amburana cearensis) and pink jequitibá (Cariniana legalis). This study points to the possibility and success for spirits aging in Brazilian wood barrels. A sensory wheel was developped for Flash Profile in sucarcane spirits and cachaça. The sensory wheel was constructed containing 50 final descriptors for aspects: visual, smells, tastes and sensations. The use of the wheel is intended for both experienced tasters in sensory analysis as to form new tasters and spirits quality evaluators in order to activate the sensory memory and provide standardized and organized descriptive terms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/15368-0 - Evaluation of congeners in cachaça aged in French and American oak: comparison of aging in barrels and interaction with wood chips
• Grantee: Aline Marques Bortoletto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate