Identification and dosage by HRGC of minor alcohols and esters in Brazilian sugar-cane spirit

the presence of 51 volatile compounds, among alcohols and esters in brazilian sugar-cane spirit (cacha？a), were investigated by high-resolution gas chromatography (hrgc). the following alcohols and esters were identified and quantified: methanol, 1,4-butanodiol, 2-phenylethyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cynamic alcohol, n-decanol, geraniol, isoamyl alcohol, isobutanol, menthol, n-butanol, n-dodecanol, n-propanol, n-tetradecanol, amyl propionate, ethyl acetate, ethyl benzoate, ethyl heptanoate, isoamyl valerate, methyl propionate, propyl butyrate. the average higher alcohols content (262 mg/100 ml in anhydrous alcohol a.a.) and total esters content (24 mg/100 ml a.a.) in cacha？as, are smaller than in other spirits. the average methanol content in cacha？as (6 mg/100 ml a.a.) is the same as in rum, but smaller than in wine spirit. no qualitative differences of chemical profile among cacha？as have been observed.