Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society (Jan 2009)
Characterization of volatile compounds of 'Drenja', an alcoholic beverage obtained from the fruits of Cornelian cherry
Abstract
In this study, volatile compounds were analyzed in five samples of home-made spirit beverage made by the distillation of fermented fruits of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.). The major volatile compounds, besides ethanol, identified and quantified were: methanol, acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, ethyl acetate, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-butanol, amyl alcohols, 1-hexanol and 2-phenylethanol. The minor volatiles were submitted to liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/ /mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 84 compounds were identified. The most abundant compounds were straight-chain free fatty acids, ethyl esters of C6-C18 acids, limonene, 2-phenylethanol and 4-ethylphenol. Most of the compounds found in the 'Drenja' spirits investigated in this study are similar to those present in other alcoholic beverages.
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