Characterization and differentiation of sherry brandies using their aromatic profile

Aroma compounds of 48 Sherry brandies have been identified and quantified by the stir bar sorptive extraction method coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC/MS). Analysis of variance and multivariate analysis techniques have been used to classify these brandy samples according to the commercial category (Solera brandy, Solera Reserva brandy, and Solera Gran Reserva brandy). From an univariate point of view (analysis of variance), several of the volatile compounds considered showed significant differences. Principal component analysis, using the global data matrix, showed that only the Solera brandy samples, with the shortest aging in wood, were well-differentiated from the others. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) results provided evidence of the ability of the content of volatile compounds to discriminate among the different commercial categories. Linear discriminate analysis allowed for a 93% differentiation according to the commercial category and, thus, the length of its aging process in wood. The results obtained show that it would be possible to ensure the commercial category of a Sherry brandy using its content of volatile compounds.