Chemical composition of whiskies produced in Brazil compared to international products

Alcoholic strength, volatile acidity, acetaldehyde, methanol, ethyl acetate, higher alcohols (n-propanol, isobutanol, and amyl alcohols), ethyl carbamate, and copper were investigated in 7 brands of blended whiskies produced and bottled in Brazil (BWB) from a wide range of prices, and two brands of blended Scotch whiskies bottled in Brazil (SWB) were investigated for comparison. All brands complied with limits established by Brazilian regulations. The cheapest BWB brand was the most analytically diverse and the only one containing ethyl carbamate above the quantification limit, at 0.09 mg/L. When compared to SWB as well as Scotch, Bourbon, Irish or Canadian whiskies, BWB showed much lower concentrations of methanol, ethyl acetate, n-propanol, and isobutanol. The use of highly rectified ethyl alcohol in the blending process is the most likely explanation for the BWB results.