A high-quality berry vodka (Berrovka): Fabrication and investigation by gas chromatography–mass spectro metry

Abstract

In this study, a high-quality berry vodka, termed Berrovka, was produced using a mixture of berries – strawberries, raspberries, cherries, currants and gooseberries – cultivated and harvested in a household setting and processed into jam. The fermentation products of the mixed-berry jam waste were subsequently distilled, and the resulting distillates were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Analytical conditions for GC–MS were selected and optimised to facilitate the qualitative and quantitative assessment. Ethanol was identified as the primary fermentation product, as anticipated. Several volatile by-products, including acetaldehyde, methanol, propanol, isobutanol, butanol, and others, were identified. The analysis of sequential distillation fractions indicated a marked decrease in acetaldehyde concentration as distillation progressed. Concentrations of propanol, isobutanol, and isoamyl alcohol exhibited a gradual decline, whereas methanol levels remained relatively constant throughout the distillation process. These findings highlight the potential for producing a high-quality distilled spirit from household berry jam waste, with controlled levels of fermentation by-products through optimised distillation.