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Assessment of spirit aging on different kinds of wooden fragments

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Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of maceration of different species of wood (oak, acacia, chestnut, apricot, mulberry, plum, cherry and grape vine) in three stages of toasting (110, 175, and 200 °C) on the antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol content, changes in color and sensory acceptability of the wine spirit. The addition of different kinds of wooden fragments to the wine spirit led to increased content of compounds with antioxidant capacity in the spirit. The highest level of antioxidant capacity was found in the spirit aging with an addition of wooden fragments of chestnut tree. Samples of spirits containing wood fragments treated at a lower temperature reached higher concentration of compounds with antioxidant capacity. The determined total content of polyphenols in spirit is correlated with antioxidant capacity values. Sensory analysis revealed statistically significant difference only in color, smoke aroma, smoke taste, overall quality and flavor persistence. The other sensory parameters of spirits observed did not show any statistically significant difference.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this research was provided by Project IGA-ZF/2019-AP006 of Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.

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Correspondence to Pavel Híc.

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Híc, P., Horák, M., Balík, J. et al. Assessment of spirit aging on different kinds of wooden fragments. Wood Sci Technol 55, 257–270 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-020-01225-x

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