Fusel alcohol

Fusel alcohols, also sometimes called fusel oils, or potato oil in Europe, are higher-order alcohols (that is, alcohols with more than two carbon atoms) formed by fermentation and present in cider, mead, beer, wine, and spirits to varying degrees.

The term fusel is German for "bad liquor".[1]

Contents

Composition and taste

The compounds involved are chiefly:

Excessive concentrations of these fractions may cause off flavours, sometimes described as "spicy", "hot", or "solvent-like". Some beverages, such as whisky, Siwucha, and traditional ales and ciders, are expected to have relatively high concentrations of fusel alcohols as part of the flavour profile. In other beverages, such as Korn, vodka, and lagers, the presence of fusel alcohols is considered a fault.

Formation and removal

Fusel alcohols are formed when fermentation occurs:

During distillation, fusel alcohols are concentrated in the "tails" at the end of the distillation run. They have an oily consistency, which is noticeable to the distiller, hence the other name "fusel oil". If desired, these heavier alcohols can be almost completely separated in a reflux still. Freeze distillation, on the other hand, does not remove fusel alcohols.

Health effects

There is a popular belief that fusel alcohol contributes to hangover symptoms. One study indicated that fusel alcohol has no more significant undesirable health effects (headache, nausea, etc.) than ethanol, the primary active ingredient in all alcoholic beverages.[2] This study involved an animal model of hangover, and its significance in humans is unclear.

References

  1. ^ Hazelwood, Lucie A.; Daran, Jean-Marc; van Maris, Antonius J. A.; Pronk, Jack T.; Dickinson, J. Richard (2008). "The Ehrlich pathway for fusel alcohol production: a century of research on Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism". Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74 (8): 2259–66. doi:10.1128/AEM.02625-07. PMC 2293160. PMID 18281432. http://aem.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=18281432. .
  2. ^ Hori H, Fujii W, Hatanaka Y, Suwa Y. (Aug 27, 2003). "Effects of fusel oil on animal hangover models.". National Institute of Health 27 (8 Suppl): 37S–41S. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000078828.49740.48. PMID 12960505. 

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