Multi-objective evaluation of freshly distilled brandy: Characterisation and distribution patterns of key odour-active compounds

The characterisation and distribution patterns of key odour-active compounds in head, heart1, heart2, tail, and stillage cuts of freshly distilled brandy were investigated by gas chromatography–olfactometry-mass spectrometry coupled with aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) and chemometrics analysis. Results from AEDA showed that there were 50, 61, 48, 25, and 18 odour-active compounds in the head, heart1, heart2, tail, and stillage cuts, respectively. Besides, 19, 22, 11, 5, and 4 quantified compounds with odour activity values ≥ 1, respectively, were considered to be potential contributors to the aroma profile of different distillation cuts. Especially, the chemometrics analysis illustrated the heart1 fraction was characterized by 3-methylbutanol, ethyl hexanoate, 1-hexanol, ethyl octanoate, benzaldehyde, ethyl decanoate, and 2-phenylethyl acetate; (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, and 2-phenylethyl acetate greatly contributed to the characteristics of the heart2 cut. Furthermore, different volatile compounds with a variety of boiling points and solubilities followed diverse distillation rules during the second distillation. Our findings may provide a rational basis for concentrating more pleasant aroma components contributing to brandy.