This blog offers technical articles dedicated to spirits professionals
and written in collaboration with our network of experts.
It is designed to allow you to navigate through various topics.
New articles will be regularly added.
Consequences of Climate Change on the Quality and Stability of Spirits – Part 1
Climate change spares no domain, and the production of spirits, especially their aging in barrels, is no exception. The influence of climate variations on the organoleptic properties and stability of finished products is becoming a key concern for quality-conscious producers.
To understand the impacts of climate change, it is essential to revisit the origin of the compounds that form the very essence of spirits. Since only volatile compounds from the fermented matter remain in the distillate after distillation, this first article focuses on the origin and organoleptic impact of these compounds.
Blending of eaux-de-vie, a very strange phenomenon of contraction
When diluting a hydroalcoholic mixture with water, the final volume is lower than the sum of the volume of water + the starting volume.
This article explains its origin. He presents a study which demonstrates that in the case where analysis by distillation requires dilution, it is nevertheless possible to obtain good precision in the measurement of the alcohol level.
Alcohol content measurement – Part 3 : Distillation with dilution
To measure the alcohol content in a spirit, the official method by distillation is still the most used method because it is the most universal and the least expensive in investment.
There are different types of distillation devices (direct distillation or steam entrainment), more or less automated, but which all have a maximum field of application for measuring the alcohol level.
This article explains how to use the device even if the alcohol level is above its use limit, while obtaining accurate results using appropriate methodology.
Alcohol Content Measurement – Part 1: Principle, Equipment, Selection Criteria
To meet internal production control requirements, this article presents the various methods and equipment for measuring the alcohol content in alcoholic beverages.
It guides you in choosing the most suitable method based on your objectives, whether in terms of the type of beverage to be analyzed, the desired result accuracy, response time, frequency of analysis, operator qualifications, or budget constraints linked to investment and operation.
Alcohol content measurement – Part 2 : Distillation or Infrared
The official method for determining the alcohol content of a spirit requires prior distillation to eliminate residues that could distort the density measurement. However, distillation does not completely eliminate all volatile compounds other than ethanol.
What about measurements made with automatic or semi-automatic devices, very selective for the analysis of ethanol, such as near infrared analyzers?
Alcohol Contraction or Dilatation with temperature
During a temperature increase, volume of alcohols expands or conversely, during a temperature decrease, the volume contracts. The higher the alcohol content, the more pronounced this phenomenon becomes.
In the field of spirits, during production, for inventory management and bulk transactions, the measured volume can vary significantly due to temperature fluctuations. Therefore, it is essential to convert the measured volumes to 20°C for accuracy.
So how to calculate the volume at 20°C ?
Volatile Substances
The definition of Volatile Substances was revised in 2000 in a European regulation.
For some types of spirits, the sum of volatile substances is standardized: refer to the European Regulation of Spirits Drinks in force, to the specific specifications of some appellations, or to the regulations or specifications imposed by the importing country.
This article includes the definition, the calculation and the official methods of analysis of these substances.
Obscuration
The analytical parameter “Obscuration” of a spirit corresponds to the difference between the real alcoholic strength by volume and the gross alcoholic strength by volume.
Where does this “Obscuration” come from?
Alcoholometry Practical Guide
The Practical Guide to Alcoholometry includes charts, white pages (Table VII b) and yellow pages (Table XI bb), used to determine the alcohol level at 20°C and calculate the volume of pure alcohol.
This article presents the principle of use of these charts and the differences between these 2 tables. It shows that the volume of pure alcohol calculated with the yellow pages is more approximate. It also explains how to convert at 20°C, a volume measurement when the alcohol level measurement is obtained directly at 20°C.
Good Practices for the use of alcoholmeters and maintenance
To achieve the accuracy provided by the manufacturer, it is important to follow the rules for using an alcoholmeter.
To maintain this accuracy, it is equally important to follow certain maintenance instructions.