Alcoholic beverage

Abstract

To provide an alcoholic beverage containing Brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber, improved in thirst-stopping property, and enhanced in squeezed lemon-like feeling.SOLUTION: An alcoholic beverage containing Brown spirits, water-soluble dietary fiber, and one or more selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal, the above-described alcoholic beverage in which the concentration of ethylhexanoate is 0.02 to 0. 20ppm or the concentration of nonanal is 2 to 200ppb, and a method for improving the taste of an alcoholic beverage containing Brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber and having a citric acidity of 0. 02g / 100mL or less, the method comprising adding one or more selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an alcoholic beverage comprising brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber. [Background technology]

[0002] Alcoholic beverages flavored with various flavorings added to distilled spirits such as whiskey, brandy, shochu, gin, and vodka are widely popular. For example, oak, the raw material for barrels, is known to impart a desirable aroma to alcoholic beverages. Therefore, it has been common to impart an oak flavor to still alcoholic beverages, such as distilled spirits and fruit wines, by filling and storing them in storage containers such as oak barrels. Oak chips, which are fragments of the oak wood used to make barrels, have been used as a technique to impart oak-derived flavors, such as barrel aroma, to still alcoholic beverages in containers other than barrels. Alcoholic beverages with a distinctive flavor and brown color due to components eluted from wooden barrels and chips are called brown spirits.

[0003] Various techniques have been developed to improve the flavor of alcoholic beverages containing brown spirits. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that adding one or more selected from rare sugar-containing syrup, D-psicose, D-tagatose, and D-allose to an alcoholic beverage containing both brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber imparts richness and maintains a favorable flavor such as mellowness. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses that the harsh alcohol flavor of an alcoholic beverage can be reduced by adjusting the content of ethyl caproate to 0.01 ppm or more and the content of ethyl octanoate to 0.01 ppm or more. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-157943 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-073897 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an alcoholic beverage containing brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber, which has improved thirst quenching properties and an enhanced freshly squeezed lemon flavor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of intensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors discovered that by adding at least one of ethylhexanoate and nonanal to an alcoholic beverage containing brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber, the thirst quenching properties are improved while the freshly squeezed lemon flavor is enhanced, and thus the present invention was completed.

[0007] That is, the present invention is as follows. [1] An alcoholic beverage comprising brown spirits, water-soluble dietary fiber, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal. [2] The concentration of ethylhexanoate is 0.02 to 0.20 ppm, or The alcoholic beverage according to [1] above, wherein the concentration of nonanal is 0.05 to 0.50 ppm. [3] The alcoholic beverage according to [1], wherein the concentration of ethylhexanoate is 0.02 to 0.20 ppm and the concentration of nonanal is 0.05 to 0.50 ppm. [4] The alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the content of the water-soluble dietary fiber is 0.5 g / 100 mL to 5.0 g / 100 mL. [5] The alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [4] above, wherein the alcohol concentration is 0.5 v / v% to 9.0 v / v%. [6] The alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the extract content is 2.0 g / 100 mL to 4.0 g / 100 mL. [7] The alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [6] above, having a carbon dioxide pressure of 1.5GV to 2.6GV. [8] Any of the alcoholic beverages described in [1] to [7] above, which is lemon-flavored. [9] The alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the brown spirits is whiskey.

[10] An alcoholic beverage according to any one of [1] to [9] above, filled in a container.

[11] The alcoholic beverage according to

[10] , wherein the container is a metal container.

[12] The alcoholic beverage according to

[10] , wherein the container is a metal container that opens over 30% or more of the top surface area of ​​the container when opened.

[13] In alcoholic beverages containing brown spirits and soluble dietary fiber, A method for improving the flavor of an alcoholic beverage, characterized by including one or more members selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal.

[14] For the alcoholic beverage: Adjust the concentration of ethylhexanoate to 0.02 to 0.20 ppm, or The method for improving the flavor of an alcoholic beverage according to

[13] , wherein the concentration of nonanal is adjusted to 0.05 to 0.50 ppm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a brown spirits-containing alcoholic beverage having improved thirst quenching properties and an enhanced freshly squeezed lemon flavor and having a high palatability can be provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the present invention and this specification, "ppm" and "ppb" mean "ppm by mass (0.0001% by mass)" and "ppb by mass (0.0000001% by mass)", respectively.

[0010] In the present invention and in this specification, "X1 to X2 (where X1 and X2 are real numbers satisfying X1 < X2)" means a numerical range of "X1 or more and X2 or less".

[0011] In the present invention and in this specification, the "alcoholic beverage" means a beverage having an alcohol concentration of 0.05 v / v% or more. The alcoholic beverage may be a beverage produced through a fermentation process or a beverage produced without going through a fermentation process. Further, it may be a fizzy beverage containing carbon dioxide gas or a non-fizzy beverage.

[0012] In the present invention and in this specification, the "brown spirits" means a colored distilled liquor having a unique fragrance containing components eluted from wood raw materials. Generally, it is produced by filling a distilled liquor into a wooden barrel and aging it for a predetermined period. Also, it can be produced by holding a distilled liquor with wood chips added for a predetermined period. Examples of the wood used for the wooden barrel and wood chips include oak, cherry, acacia, and Japanese zelkova.

[0013] The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention is characterized by containing brown spirits, water-soluble dietary fiber, and at least one selected from the group consisting of ethyl hexanoate and nonanal. Although the blending of water-soluble dietary fiber gives a sweet taste, the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention contains at least one selected from the group consisting of ethyl hexanoate and nonanal. Therefore, in addition to the reduction of the taste caused by water-soluble dietary fiber, it also has an excellent bitter aftertaste.

[0014] The brown spirits contained in the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention are not particularly limited, and various brown spirits such as whiskey, brandy, rum, tequila, and bitters can be used. The brown spirits contained in the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention may be one type or two or more types. ​​The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention may contain an alcohol other than brown spirits as an ingredient. The alcohol may be a white spirit (a colorless and transparent spirit) such as vodka, shochu, or gin, or a distilled alcohol such as beer, wine, or cider. When the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention contains an alcohol other than brown spirits, the alcohol may be one type or two or more types.

[0016] The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is 0.05 v / v% or higher. The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.5 v / v% or higher, more preferably 1.0 v / v% or higher, even more preferably 2.5 v / v% or higher, and even more preferably 5.0 v / v% or higher. The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 15.0 v / v% or lower, more preferably 12.0 v / v% or lower, even more preferably 10.0 v / v% or lower, and even more preferably 9.0 v / v% or lower.

[0017] The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be calculated from the content and blend amount of alcohol used as an ingredient. The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can also be determined, for example, by the method prescribed by the National Tax Agency (National Tax Agency Instruction No. 6 of 2007, revised June 22, 2007).

[0018] The inclusion of water-soluble dietary fiber in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention can impart a moderate richness to the beverage. Water-soluble dietary fiber refers to carbohydrates that dissolve in water and are not or are poorly digested by human digestive enzymes. Examples of water-soluble dietary fiber to be included in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention include soybean dietary fiber, polydextrose, indigestible dextrin, galactomannan, inulin, guar gum hydrolysate, pectin, gum arabic, etc. These water-soluble dietary fibers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0019] The content of water-soluble dietary fiber in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited. In order to impart sufficient body, the content of water-soluble dietary fiber in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.5 g / 100 mL or more, more preferably 0.8 g / 100 mL or more, even more preferably 1.0 g / 100 mL or more, and even more preferably 1.5 g / 100 mL or more. The content of water-soluble dietary fiber in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 5.0 g / 100 mL or less, more preferably 4.5 g / 100 mL or less, and even more preferably 4.0 g / 100 mL or less.

[0020] The water-soluble dietary fiber content of the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be calculated from the blending ratio of the ingredients of the alcoholic beverage. The water-soluble dietary fiber content of the alcoholic beverage can also be determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (enzyme-HPLC), which is a dietary fiber analysis method described in "Methods for Analyzing Nutritional Components, etc. in the Nutrition Labeling Standards" (Eishin No. 13, April 26, 1999).

[0021] The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention contains at least one of ethylhexanoate and nonanal. By including these, the thirst quenching effect is improved, the freshly squeezed lemon flavor is enhanced, and the flavor is improved. These effects tend to increase depending on the content of ethylhexanoate and nonanal. It is also preferable that the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention contains both ethylhexanoate and nonanal.

[0022] The ethylhexanoate concentration in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited, as long as it is a concentration that can achieve the thirst-quenching effect and freshly squeezed lemon flavor enhancement effects of ethylhexanoate. To obtain a more sufficient effect, the ethylhexanoate concentration in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.005 ppm or more, more preferably 0.02 ppm or more, and even more preferably 0.05 ppm or more. Furthermore, to minimize the influence of the flavor of ethylhexanoate itself on the beverage, the ethylhexanoate concentration in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.30 ppm or less, more preferably 0.25 ppm or less, and even more preferably 0.20 ppm or less. The ethylhexanoate concentration in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is particularly preferably 0.02 to 0.20 ppm.

[0023] The method for adding a desired concentration of ethylhexanoate to the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, an alcoholic beverage containing ethylhexanoate can be produced by using ethylhexanoate as a raw material. The raw material used may be synthetic or natural ethylhexanoate, or a flavoring containing ethylhexanoate.

[0024] The nonanal concentration of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited, as long as it is a concentration that can achieve the thirst-quenching effect and the freshly squeezed lemon flavor enhancement effect of nonanal. To obtain a more sufficient effect, the nonanal concentration of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.5 ppb or more, more preferably 2.0 ppb or more, and even more preferably 20 ppb or more. Furthermore, to suppress the influence of the flavor of nonanal itself on the beverage, the nonanal concentration of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 500 ppb or less, more preferably 400 ppb or less, and even more preferably 200 ppb or less. The nonanal concentration of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is particularly preferably 2 to 200 ppb.

[0025] There are no particular limitations on the means for incorporating nonanal at a desired concentration into the alcoholic beverage of the present invention. For example, by using nonanal as a raw material, an alcoholic beverage containing nonanal can be produced. The raw material used may be nonanal derived from synthetic or natural products, or a flavoring containing nonanal.

[0026] The concentrations of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention can be calculated from the blending ratio of the ingredients containing each of them. In addition, the concentrations of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention can be quantified, for example, by GC / MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry).

[0027] The acidity of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is 0.02 g / 100 mL or less, calculated as citric acid. From the viewpoint of ease of drinking and superior thirst quenching effect, the acidity of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.01 g / 100 mL or more, calculated as citric acid. The acidity of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 1.00 g / 100 mL or less, more preferably 0.50 g / 100 mL or less, even more preferably 0.10 g / 100 mL or less, even more preferably 0.08 g / 100 mL or less, and particularly preferably 0.02 g / 100 mL or less, calculated as citric acid.

[0028] The acidity of the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be calculated from the blending ratio of the ingredients of the alcoholic beverage. The acidity of the alcoholic beverage is calculated based on the acidity measurement method prescribed in "3-5 Total Acid (Free Acid)" on page 8 of the National Tax Agency's Prescribed Analytical Methods (National Tax Agency Ordinance No. 6 of 2007). Specifically, the acidity can be measured by the following method. First, accurately measure 1 to 50 mL of sample and dilute appropriately with water. This is titrated with 0.1 mol / L sodium hydroxide solution, and the endpoint is set to 8.2 on a pH meter. The pH is calculated using the following formula: where "A" is the titer (mL) of 0.1 mol / L sodium hydroxide solution, "f" is the titer of the 0.1 mol / L sodium hydroxide solution, and W is the sample weight (g). Also, "0.0064" is the weight (g) of anhydrous citric acid equivalent to 1 mL of 0.1 mol / L sodium hydroxide solution.

[0029] [Citric acid equivalent acidity (%)] = A x f x 100 / W x 0.0064

[0030] The extract content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is appropriately adjusted depending on the desired product quality. From the viewpoint of superior drinkability, the extract content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 1.0 g / 100 mL or more, more preferably 2.0 g / 100 mL or more. The extract content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is preferably 5.0 g / 100 mL or less, more preferably 4.0 g / 100 mL or less.

[0031] Extract content is the amount of 100cm3 of original volume at a temperature of 15°C. 3 The extract content of an alcoholic beverage according to the present invention refers to the number of grams of nonvolatile components contained in the alcoholic beverage. The extract content of an alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be calculated, for example, by measuring the specific gravity (sake meter value) and alcohol content in accordance with the analytical method prescribed by the National Tax Agency of Japan. The extract content of an alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can also be determined by a method in which the water content in a sample is directly evaporated by steam drying or the like and the remaining extract content is weighed.

[0032] The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention may be a non-sparkling alcoholic beverage, but is preferably a sparkling beverage in order to more fully utilize the effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal. When the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention is a sparkling beverage, its carbon dioxide pressure is appropriately adjusted depending on the desired product quality. In order to provide a more excellent refreshing feeling due to the carbon dioxide gas, the carbon dioxide pressure of the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be 1.0 GV to 4.5 GV at 20°C, and preferably 1.5 GV to 3.6 GV.

[0033] The alcoholic beverage of the present invention may contain other ingredients in addition to brown spirits, water-soluble dietary fiber, ethylhexanoate, and nonanal, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Such other ingredients include carbonated water, carbon dioxide gas, raw water, fruits and vegetables, herbs, tea, flavorings (excluding those containing ethylhexanoate or nonanal), soft drinks, acidulants, sweeteners, colorings, antioxidants, foaming agents, proteins or their hydrolyzates, yeast extract, etc.

[0034] The fresh produce may be either fruit or vegetables. Examples of fruit include tropical fruits such as mango, kiwifruit, banana, pineapple, papaya, lychee, guava, and passion fruit; citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, yuzu, sudachi, kabosu, shikuwasa, grapefruit, sweetie, orange, unshu mandarin, summer mandarin, Iyokan, hassaku, and hyuganatsu; and soft fruits such as peaches, plums, apples, grapes, melons, watermelons, pears, cherries, plums, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black currants, and loquats. Examples of vegetables that can be used include tomatoes, carrots, spinach, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, parsley, watercress, kale, soybeans, beets, red peppers, pumpkins, komatsuna, ginger, and parsley. These may be used alone or in combination. The fruits and vegetables used as raw materials for the sparkling alcoholic beverage may be shredded or crushed edible parts, or squeezed juice, or may be inedible parts such as fruit peels.

[0035] Examples of herbs include lemongrass, sage, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary, pepper, peppermint, vanilla, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of tea include green tea leaves, black tea leaves, oolong tea leaves, and matcha.

[0036] Flavorings that can be used include, for example, extracts of aroma components from fruits or their peels with a solvent such as alcohol, and concentrates thereof by vacuum distillation or atmospheric distillation. Various food flavorings that are added to beverages can also be used as appropriate. These flavorings may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0037] Examples of acidulants include organic acids such as citric acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, and fumaric acid, as well as phosphoric acid. These acidulants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0038] Examples of sweeteners include sucrose, liquid sugar, oligosaccharides, dextrin, starch, sweet amino acids, and high-sensitivity sweeteners. Examples of sweet amino acids include alanine and glycine, with alanine being preferred. Examples of high-sensitivity sweeteners include acesulfame potassium, aspartame, stevia, enzyme-treated stevia, and sucralose. These sweeteners may be used alone or in combination.

[0039] Examples of antioxidants include sulfurous acid and vitamin C. These antioxidants may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of foaming agents include soybean peptides, soybean saponin, alginate esters, quillaja saponin, etc. These foaming agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of protein hydrolysates include soy protein hydrolysates, etc. These protein hydrolysates may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of coloring agents include coloring agents commonly used in foods and beverages, such as caramel color, etc. These coloring agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0040] The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention is preferably a lemon-flavored alcoholic beverage because it has an excellent freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and therefore preferably contains lemon juice, pulp, peel, essential oil, lemon flavoring, etc.

[0041] The alcoholic beverage according to the present invention can be produced, for example, by a method of mixing the ingredients (mixing method). The order in which the ingredients are mixed is not particularly limited. All ingredients may be added to the raw water at the same time, or the ingredients may be added sequentially, such as by dissolving the previously added ingredients and then adding the remaining ingredients. Furthermore, for example, solid ingredients (e.g., powder or granules) and alcohol may be mixed with the raw water, or the solid ingredients may be prepared as aqueous solutions in advance, and then these aqueous solutions, alcohol, and, if necessary, raw water may be mixed. Furthermore, heated ingredients may be added to the raw water, or a prepared blend may be heated.

[0042] If insoluble matter is generated in the prepared preparation, it is preferable to subject the preparation to a treatment for removing the insoluble matter, such as filtration. The treatment for removing the insoluble matter is not particularly limited, and can be carried out by a method commonly used in the technical field, such as filtration or centrifugation. In the present invention, it is preferable to remove the insoluble matter by filtration, and more preferably by diatomaceous earth filtration.

[0043] When the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention is a sparkling alcoholic beverage, it can be produced, for example, by using carbonated water or a sparkling soft drink such as cider or ramune as an ingredient. Alternatively, a sparkling alcoholic beverage can be produced by preparing a blended liquid by mixing all ingredients except for carbon dioxide gas, and then introducing carbon dioxide gas into this blended liquid. The introduction of carbon dioxide gas can be carried out by a conventional method.

[0044] A bottled alcoholic beverage can be produced by filling a container with the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention and sealing it. Filling and sealing the container can be carried out by conventional methods. The empty space of the bottled alcoholic beverage may be filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The inert gas can reduce the amount of oxygen present in the container.

[0045] The container for filling the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention is not particularly limited. Specific examples include glass bottles, cans, and flexible containers. Examples of cans include two-piece beverage cans, three-piece beverage cans, and bottle-shaped cans. Examples of flexible containers include containers made by molding flexible resins such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Flexible containers may be made of a single-layer resin or a multi-layer resin.

[0046] The container for filling the alcoholic beverage according to the present invention may be a transparent container or a light-shielding container. By blocking light, particularly ultraviolet light, during the storage period from production to consumption, flavor deterioration is suppressed, which is preferable. The light-shielding container may be a green or brown transparent glass bottle, and a container that completely blocks light, such as a metal container, is particularly preferable.

[0047] The container used in the present invention is preferably one with a relatively wide opening area when opened. Some of the barrel aroma components eluted from the wood chips volatilize and mix with the gas inside the container. The wide opening area allows the barrel aroma to be felt more strongly when opened. Examples of containers with a wide opening area include bottle-shaped cans and full-open cans. Bottle-shaped cans are bottle-shaped metal containers that can be resealed with a screw cap. Full-open cans are metal containers in which 30% or more of the area of ​​the top surface of the can lid is open when the lid is opened. The open area of ​​a full-open can is preferably 50% or more of the area of ​​the top surface of the container, more preferably 90% or more, and even more preferably the entire top surface of the container.

[0048] The full-open can used in the present invention may have a circular can lid top surface that is scored (notched) around its entire circumference. The scoring allows the entire can lid top surface to detach from the can body and be opened. However, the entire can lid top surface does not necessarily need to be detached, and a container may be used in which a portion of the can lid top surface remains on the can body after opening.

[0049] As the container used in the present invention, a full-open can is particularly preferred. A full-open can has a wider opening when opened than a bottle can, and when drinking, the barrel-like aroma derived from brown spirits is more likely to be perceived.

[0050] The capacity of the container used in the present invention (the amount of beverage liquid filled) is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 135 to 1000 mL, preferably 320 to 500 mL. When the top surface of the container is circular, the diameter of the container is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 200 to 211 mm, preferably 202 to 206 mm (JIS Z 1571:2016). [Example]

[0051] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0052] [Measurement of ethylhexanoate and nonanal] In the following experiments, the concentrations of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in the beverages were measured using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) under the following conditions: The SPME method involves thermally desorbing a sample adsorbed on an SPME fiber at the injection port of a GC / MS, followed by separation and detection by GC / MS.

[0053] (GC / MS conditions) Column: DB-5 (30 m x 0.25 m x 0.25 μm) (Agilent) Oven: 40°C for 5 minutes → Heat to 200°C (7°C / min) → Heat to 250°C (15°C / min) → 250°C for 5 minutes Carrier gas and flow rate: He, 1.0 mL / min (constant flow) Injection mode: Splitless 250℃ Injection port purge flow rate: 10 mL / min Injection port purge time: 1.5 minutes Injection port total flow rate: 14.6 mL / min Liner: Splitless liner for SPME Detector: MSD (solvent waiting time 9 minutes) Detected ions: Group 1 [Group Start Time: 9, Group Ion / Dwell (98,40)(100,40)(110,40)(111,40)(114,40)(121,40)(126,40)(136,40)] Group 2 [Group Start Time: 16.5, Group Ion / Dwell (98,60)(121,60)(126,60)(136,60)(141,60)] Group 3 [Group Start Time: 19.5, Group Ion / Dwell (93,40)(107,40)(121,40)(123,40)(136,40)(137,40)(152,40)] MS ion source temperature: 230℃ Upper limit 250℃ MS quadrupole temperature: 150℃ Upper limit 200℃

[0054] (SPME conditions) (1) General conditions SPME fiber: 57327-U (50 / 30 μm DVB / CAR / PDMS Stableflex 24Ga, manufactured by SPELCO) Runtime: 37 minutes Cooling time: 8 minutes (2) Sample preparation Transfer from tray to SPME: Not possible Incubator:Agitator Incubation temperature: 40℃ Incubation time: 10 minutes Agitator on time: 20 seconds Agitator off time: 2 seconds Stirring speed: 250rpm (3) Sample parameters Sample tray type: VT32-20 Vial penetration: 25mm Extraction time: 20 minutes Injection penetration: 47 minutes Detach time: 60 seconds (4) Fiber Bakeout Bakeout location: NdlHeatr Bake out temperature: 270℃ Pre-bake time: 15 minutes Post-bakeout time: 0 minutes Bakeout Penetration: 47 minutes (5) Derivatization Derivatization mode: No derivatization

[0055] [Sensory evaluation] In the subsequent experiments, sensory evaluation was performed by 10 trained panelists, and the average score of all panelists was used as the score of the evaluation object.

[0056] (Evaluation items) Thirst quenching: Can be drunk smoothly without getting stuck in the throat. Freshly squeezed lemon flavor: The aroma of freshly squeezed lemon in a whiskey highball sold in stores. Taste: Delicious brown spirits.

[0057] The evaluation was conducted on a 7-point scale from 1 to 7. For thirst quenching effect and freshly squeezed lemon flavor, 1 was the weakest and 7 was the strongest. For taste, 1 was the least tasty and 7 was the most tasty.

[0058] [Example 1] The effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal on the thirst quenching properties, freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and palatability of whiskey-based alcoholic beverages were investigated.

[0059] Alcoholic beverages were produced using whiskey, ethylhexanoate, nonanal, citric acid, water-soluble dietary fiber, and high-fructose corn syrup as raw materials, with the ethylhexanoate concentration, nonanal concentration, gas pressure, acidity, extract content, alcohol content, and water-soluble dietary fiber content adjusted to the physical properties shown in Tables 1 to 3. Polydextrose (product name "Lytes HF," manufactured by DuPont) was used as the water-soluble dietary fiber. All test alcoholic beverages contained 1 ppm of lemon flavoring (containing neither ethylhexanoate nor nonanal).

[0060] The results of the sensory evaluation of the obtained alcoholic beverages are shown in Tables 1 to 3. Note that ethylhexanoate and nonanal were not detected in the raw material whiskey.

[0061] [Table 1]

[0062] [Table 2]

[0063] [Table 3]

[0064] As shown in Table 1, the alcoholic beverages of Test Plots 1-1 to 1-6 containing ethylhexanoate had improved thirst quenching properties, a stronger freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and were more delicious than the alcoholic beverage of Test Plot 1-0, which did not contain ethylhexanoate. As shown in Table 2, the alcoholic beverages of Test Plots 2-1 to 2-6 containing nonanal also had improved thirst quenching properties, a stronger freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and were more delicious than the alcoholic beverage of Test Plot 2-0, which did not contain nonanal. These improving effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal increased depending on the ethylhexanoate and nonanal content, but when these contents were too high, the flavor of ethylhexanoate and nonanal themselves became an off-flavor, reducing the palatability.

[0065] As shown in Table 3, in the test plots 3-1 to 3-5 containing both ethylhexanoate and nonanal, the thirst quenching effect was improved compared to when ethylhexanoate or nonanal was contained alone, and the freshly squeezed lemon flavor was enhanced, making the drink more delicious. These results confirmed that the combined use of ethylhexanoate and nonanal provides greater effectiveness than when used alone.

[0066] [Example 2] The effect of dietary fiber on the effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in a brown spirits-containing alcoholic beverage was investigated. Using the raw materials used in Example 1, alcoholic beverages were produced in which the ethylhexanoate concentration, nonanal concentration, gas pressure, acidity, extract content, alcohol content, and water-soluble dietary fiber content were adjusted to the physical properties shown in Table 4. All test alcoholic beverages were supplemented with 1 ppm of lemon flavoring (containing neither ethylhexanoate nor nonanal). The results of the sensory evaluation of the resulting alcoholic beverages are shown in Table 4.

[0067] [Table 4]

[0068] As shown in Table 4, comparing test plots 4-1 to 4-4, it was confirmed that the thirst quenching effect and freshly squeezed lemon flavor enhanced by ethylhexanoate and nonanal were not affected by the amount of water-soluble dietary fiber. On the other hand, it was found that the palatability was affected by the amount of water-soluble dietary fiber.

[0069] [Example 3] The influence of acidity on the effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in brown spirits-containing alcoholic beverages was investigated. Using the raw materials used in Example 1, alcoholic beverages were produced in which the ethylhexanoate concentration, nonanal concentration, gas pressure, acidity, extract content, alcohol content, and water-soluble dietary fiber content were adjusted to the physical properties shown in Table 5. All test alcoholic beverages were supplemented with 1 ppm of lemon flavoring (containing neither ethylhexanoate nor nonanal). The results of the sensory evaluation of the resulting alcoholic beverages are shown in Table 5.

[0070] [Table 5]

[0071] As shown in Table 5, the alcoholic beverages of Test Groups 5-1 to 5-3, which had low acidity, had sufficiently improved thirst quenching properties, a stronger freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and were delicious. On the other hand, the alcoholic beverage of Test Group 5-4, which had high acidity, had weaker thirst quenching properties, a reduced freshly squeezed lemon flavor, and a decreased palatability.

[0072] [Example 4] The influence of extracts on the effects of ethylhexanoate and nonanal in a brown spirits-containing alcoholic beverage was investigated. Using the raw materials used in Example 1, alcoholic beverages were produced in which the ethylhexanoate concentration, nonanal concentration, gas pressure, acidity, extract content, alcohol content, and water-soluble dietary fiber content were adjusted to the physical properties shown in Table 6. All test alcoholic beverages were supplemented with 1 ppm of lemon flavoring (containing neither ethylhexanoate nor nonanal). The results of the sensory evaluation of the resulting alcoholic beverages are shown in Table 6.

[0073] [Table 6]

[0074] As shown in Table 6, comparing test plots 6-1 to 6-4, it was confirmed that the effect of ethylhexanoate and nonanal on enhancing the freshly squeezed lemon flavor was not affected by the extract content. On the other hand, the higher the extract content, the weaker the thirst-quenching effect of ethylhexanoate and nonanal became, and the palatability also decreased. Test plot 6-1, which had a low extract content, showed a sufficient reduction in thirst-quenching effect and an enhanced freshly squeezed lemon flavor, but the palatability was affected by the extract content and was low.

Claims

1. An alcoholic beverage comprising brown spirits, water-soluble dietary fiber, and one or more selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal, and having a citric acid acidity of 0.02 g / 100 mL or less.

2. The concentration of ethylhexanoate is 0.02 to 0.20 ppm, or The alcoholic beverage according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of nonanal is 2 to 200 ppb.

3. 2. The alcoholic beverage according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of ethylhexanoate is 0.02 to 0.20 ppm and the concentration of nonanal is 2 to 200 ppb.

4. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the content of the water-soluble dietary fiber is 0.5 g / 100 mL to 4.0 g / 100 mL.

5. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having an alcohol concentration of 0.5 v / v% to 9.0 v / v%.

6. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the extract content is 2.0 g / 100 mL to 4.0 g / 100 mL.

7. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having a carbon dioxide pressure of 1.5 GV to 2.6 GV.

8. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which has a lemon flavor.

9. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brown spirit is whiskey.

10. The alcoholic beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is filled in a container.

11. The alcoholic beverage according to claim 10, wherein the container is a metal container.

12. The alcoholic beverage according to claim 10, wherein the container is a metal container that opens over an area of ​​30% or more of the top surface of the container when opened.

13. An alcoholic beverage containing brown spirits and water-soluble dietary fiber and having a citric acid acidity of 0.02 g / 100 mL or less, A method for improving the flavor of an alcoholic beverage, comprising adding one or more members selected from the group consisting of ethylhexanoate and nonanal.

14. For the alcoholic beverage, Adjusting the concentration of ethylhexanoate to 0.02 to 0.20 ppm, or The method for improving the flavor of an alcoholic beverage according to claim 13, wherein the concentration of nonanal is adjusted to 2 to 200 ppb.

Images