Design of a Novel Auxiliary Diagnostic Test for the Determination of Authenticity of Tequila 100% Agave Silver Class Based on Chemometrics Analysis of the Isotopic Fingerprint of the Beverage

Abstract

The present research shows a robust isotopic ratio characterization of Carbon-13 (δ13CVPDB) in congeneric compounds such as methanol, n-propanol, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl lactate, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and acetaldehyde in representative samples (n = 69) of Tequila 100% agave silver class (TSC), employing gas chromatography/combustion/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). From the information obtained, the construction of a radial plot attributable to the isotopic fingerprint of TSC was achieved. With this information, a diagnostic test was designed to determine the authenticity of TSC, comparing alcoholic beverages from other agave species as non-authentic samples. The sensitivity of the test was 94.2%; the specificity was 83.3%. Additionally, non-authentic samples were analyzed that meet all the criteria established in the regulations. The results obtained show that the GC/C/IRMS analytical technique and designed diagnostic test are useful as auxiliary parameters to determine the authenticity of the beverage, thus managing to determine the adulteration or falsification of the product.

Keywords

• isotopic fingerprint of Tequila
• authenticity of Mexican alcoholic beverages
• agave
• appellation of origin