Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12G—WINE; PREPARATION THEREOF; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; PREPARATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES C12C OR C12H
  • C12G3/00—Preparation of other alcoholic beverages
  • C12G3/04—Preparation of other alcoholic beverages by mixing, e.g. for preparation of liqueurs
  • C12G3/06—Preparation of other alcoholic beverages by mixing, e.g. for preparation of liqueurs with flavouring ingredients
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF
  • A23L27/00—Spices; Flavouring agents or condiments; Artificial sweetening agents; Table salts; Dietetic salt substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L27/20—Synthetic spices, flavouring agents or condiments
  • A23L27/204—Aromatic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF
  • A23L27/00—Spices; Flavouring agents or condiments; Artificial sweetening agents; Table salts; Dietetic salt substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L27/88—Taste or flavour enhancing agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12H—PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
  • C12H6/00—Methods for increasing the alcohol content of fermented solutions or alcoholic beverages
  • C12H6/02—Methods for increasing the alcohol content of fermented solutions or alcoholic beverages by distillation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C43/00—Ethers; Compounds having groups, groups or groups
  • C07C43/02—Ethers
  • C07C43/20—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C43/23—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring containing hydroxy or O-metal groups

Definitions

• the present disclosure generally relates to the use of certain vanillyl ethers to modify the flavor of distilled spirits.
• the flavor modification relates to enhancing the perceived smoothness of a distilled spirit, enhancing the mouthfeel of a distilled spirit, reducing the astringency of a distilled spirit, reducing the perceived burning effect of a distilled spirit, reducing the perceived bitterness of a distilled spirit, or any combination thereof.
• the disclosure also provides related methods of modifying the flavor of a distilled spirit, comprising introducing certain vanillyl ethers to a distilled spirit.
• the disclosure also provides beverage compositions that comprise a distilled spirit and certain vanillyl ethers.
• Distilled spirits are widely consumed throughout the world.
• the initial stage in the production of such beverages involves fermenting a sugar-containing composition, typically at an alcohol concentration of no more than about 20% ethanol by volume, and often less.
• the sugar-containing composition can be derived from a variety of different sources.
• the sugar-containing composition is derived from a fruit, such as grapes, apples, pears, plums, and the like, or from a grain, such as barley, wheat, buckwheat, com, rye, and the like, or from other sugar-containing plants, such as sugar cane, sugar beet, potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, agave, and the like.
• the process can involve some amount of pre-treatment of the fruit or grain.
• the malted barley is heated in peat-fired ovens to stop the germination process.
• the sugar-containing composition is fermented into an ethanol-containing composition, generally with the assistance of various yeast strains.
• the resulting ethanol-containing composition typically has an ethanol content ranging from about 3% by volume up to about 20% by volume, depending on the density of sugars in the sugar source, and the tolerance of the yeast for higher concentrations of ethanol.
• the distillation process is a concentration process. Because ethanol boils at a lower temperature than water (78 °C versus 100 °C under typical conditions), one can boil off the ethanol from the water by heating the ethanol-containing composition to a temperature between their two boiling points. A wide variety of different distillation apparatuses have been designed for this purpose. The resulting distillate contains a much higher concentration of ethanol, sometimes as high as about 95% ethanol by volume. Because the composition subjected to distillation is derived from certain natural products, a variety of other compounds are present in the ethanol-containing composition. Some of these may be present in the plant, while others are generated from such compounds by the yeast used to ferment the sugar to ethanol.
• the present disclosure relates to the discovery that certain vanillyl ether derivatives, when added in small quantities to distilled spirits, can reduce certain off tastes and produce a spirit that exhibits a character more consistent with that of an aged spirit.
• the disclosure provides uses of vanillyl ether compounds to modify the flavor of a distilled spirit, wherein the vanillyl ether compounds are compounds of formula (I): wherein:
• R 1 is methyl or ethyl
• R 2 is Ci-8 alkyl or C3-8 cycloalkyl.
• the disclosure provides methods of modifying the flavor of a distilled spirit, the method comprising introducing vanillyl ether compounds to a distilled spirit or to a beverage composition comprising a distilled spirit, wherein the vanillyl ether compounds are compounds of formula (I), as defined above.
• modifying the flavor comprises one of more of the following: reducing the astringency, reducing or masking the bitterness, reducing the burning, reducing the perceived sharpness, improving the mouthfeel, and improving the perceived sweetness.
• the vanillyl ethers are introduced or used in the distilled spirit at a concentration ranging from 0.1 ppm to 100 ppm, or from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, based on the total weight of the distilled spirit.
• a beverage composition comprising a distilled ethanol composition and a vanillyl ether compound, wherein the vanillyl ether compound is a compound of formula (I): wherein:
• R 1 is methyl or ethyl
• R 2 is a hydrogen atom, Ci-s alkyl, or C3-8 cycloalkyl.
• the vanillyl ethers are introduced or used in the distilled spirit at a concentration ranging from 0.1 ppm to 100 ppm, or from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, based on the total weight of the distilled spirit.
• the beverage composition comprises at least 20% by volume ethanol.
• FIG. 1 shows a chemical formula for vanillyl ether compounds whose use is described herein, wherein R 1 is methyl or ethyl, and R 2 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl, or cycloalkyl.
• a “Ci to C4 alkyl” or “Ci-4 alkyl” group refers to all alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbons, that is, -CHs. -CH2CH3, -CH2CH2CH3, -CH(CH 3 )2, -CH2CH2CH2CH3, -CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH3, and -C(CH 3 )3.
• alkyl means a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain that is fully saturated (i.e. , contains no double or triple bonds).
• an alkyl group has 1 to 20 carbon atoms (whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 20” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “1 to 20 carbon atoms” means that the alkyl group may consist of 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 20 carbon atoms, although the present definition also covers the occurrence of the term “alkyl” where no numerical range is designated).
• the alkyl group may also be a medium size alkyl having 1 to 9 carbon atoms.
• the alkyl group could also be a lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
• the alkyl group may be designated as “CM alkyl” or similar designations.
• C1-4 alkyl indicates that there are one to four carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, i.e., the alkyl chain is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and t-butyl.
• alkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the like. Unless indicated to the contrary, the term “alkyl” refers to a group that is not further substituted.
• cycloalkyl means a non-aromatic, saturated cyclic ring or ring system containing only carbon atoms in the ring system backbone.
• the cycloalkyl group may be designated as “C3-8 cycloalkyl” or similar designations.
• Examples of cycloalkyl rings include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, adamantyl, and spiro[4.4]nonanyl.
• the term “cycloalkyl” refers to a group that is not further substituted.
• radical naming conventions can include either a mono-radical or a di-radical, depending on the context.
• a substituent requires two points of attachment to the rest of the molecule, it is understood that the substituent is a di-radical.
• a substituent identified as alkyl that requires two points of attachment includes di-radicals such as -CH2-, -CH2CH2-, -CH2CH(CH3)CH2-, and the like.
• a substituent is depicted as a di-radical (i. e. , has two points of attachment to the rest of the molecule), it is to be understood that the substituent can be attached in any directional configuration unless otherwise indicated.
• a substituent depicted as -AE- or y A ⁇ E A includes the substituent being oriented such that the A is attached at the leftmost attachment point of the molecule as well as the case in which A is attached at the rightmost attachment point of the molecule.
• “comprise” or “comprises” or “comprising” or “comprised of’ refer to groups that are open, meaning that the group can include additional members in addition to those expressly recited.
• the phrase, “comprises A” means that A must be present, but that other members can be present too.
• the terms “include,” “have,” and “composed of’ and their grammatical variants have the same meaning.
• “consist of’ or “consists of’ or “consisting of’ refer to groups that are closed.
• the phrase “consists of A” means that A and only A is present.
• “optionally” means that the subsequently described event(s) may or may not occur. In some embodiments, the optional event does not occur. In some other embodiments, the optional event does occur one or more times.
• “or” is to be given its broadest reasonable interpretation, and is not to be limited to an either/or construction. Thus, the phrase “comprising A or B” means that A can be present and not B, or that B is present and not A, or that A and B are both present. Further, if A, for example, defines a class that can have multiple members, e.g., Ai and A2, then one or more members of the class can be present concurrently.
• distilled spirit refers to an ethanol-containing composition formed by distilling the product of fermenting a sugar-containing composition derived from a natural source, such as fruit, grains, agave, sugar cane, and the like. Any suitable distillation process can be used.
• the distilled spirit can also be aged, for example, in oak barrels.
• the uses, methods, compositions, and products disclosed herein relate to vanillyl ether compounds, mainly in the context of ethanol-containing beverage compositions.
• the vanillyl ether compounds are compounds of formula (I): wherein:
• R 1 is methyl or ethyl
• R 2 is a hydrogen atom, C1-8 alkyl, or C3-8 cycloalkyl; or R 2 is -CH2-(phenyl), wherein the phenyl moiety is optionally substituted one or two times by substituents selected independently from the group consisting of -OH and -OCH3.
• variable R 1 can have any suitable value, according to the definition set forth above.
• R 1 is methyl.
• R 1 is ethyl.
• variable R 2 can have any suitable value, according to the definition set forth above.
• R 2 is C1-8 alkyl.
• R 2 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, isopropyl, butan-2-yl, pentan-2-yl, hexan-2-yl, isobutyl, 2-methylbutyl, isopentyl, or pentan-3-yl.
• R 2 is ethyl or butyl. In some embodiments, R 2 is ethyl.
• R 2 is C3-8 cycloalkyl, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl. In some embodiments, R 2 is cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl. In some other embodiments, R 2 is a hydrogen atom. In some other embodiments, R 2 is -CH2-(phenyl), wherein the phenyl moiety is optionally substituted one or two times by substituents selected independently from the group consisting of -OH and -OCHs. In some such embodiments, R 2 is benzyl.
• R 2 is -CH2-(phenyl), wherein the phenyl moiety is substituted at the 3 -position or 4-position by at least one or two substituents selected independently from the group consisting of -OH and -OCH3.
• Table 1 sets forth various examples of vanillyl ether compounds according to certain embodiments. Each compound is itself a separate embodiment of a vanillyl ether compound.
• Isotopes may be present in any of the vanillyl ether compounds described. Each chemical element as represented in a compound structure may include any isotope of said element.
• a hydrogen atom may be explicitly disclosed or understood to be present in the compound.
• the hydrogen atom can be any isotope of hydrogen, including but not limited to hydrogen- 1 (protium) and hydrogen-2 (deuterium).
• reference herein to a compound encompasses all potential isotopic forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
• the vanillyl ether compounds capable of forming acid or base salts by virtue of the presence of amino or carboxyl groups or groups similar thereto.
• Comestibly acceptable acid addition salts can be formed with inorganic acids and organic acids.
• Inorganic acids from which salts can be derived include, for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like.
• Organic acids from which salts can be derived include, for example, acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, and the like.
• Comestibly acceptable salts can be formed using inorganic and organic bases.
• Inorganic bases from which salts can be derived include, for example, bases that contain sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, aluminum, and the like; particularly preferred are the ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium salts.
• treatment of the vanillyl ether compounds disclosed herein with an inorganic base results in loss of a labile hydrogen from the compound to afford the salt form including an inorganic cation such as Li + , Na + , K + , Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ and the like.
• Organic bases from which salts can be derived include, for example, primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, basic ion exchange resins, and the like, specifically such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, and ethanolamine.
• the salts are comestibly acceptable salts, which are salts suitable for inclusion in ingestible compositions, such as food or beverage products.
• the vanillyl ether compound is in its free (non-salt) form. In other embodiments, the vanillyl ether compound is a comestibly acceptable salt of any of the compounds set forth above.
• the vanillyl ether compounds exist as a crystalline solid, either in substantially pure form or in a formulation such as those set forth below.
• the crystalline solid can have any suitable polymorphic form, such as any polymorphic form obtainable via recrystallization in any suitable solvent system, according to techniques commonly used in the art of polymorph screening.
• the vanillyl ether compounds exist as an amorphous solid or a semi-amorphous solid, meaning that it lacks any regular crystalline structure.
• Such solids can be generated using standard techniques, such as spray drying, and the like.
• the vanillyl ether compounds exist as a solvate, which is a pseudomorphic form of the compound in which one or more solvent molecules (such as water molecules) are taken up into the crystalline structure.
• a solvent or combination of solvents can be used, including, but not limited to, water, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, and the like.
• the disclosure provides hydrates of the vanillyl ether compounds.
• Such solvates can be generated by any suitable means, such as those techniques typically used by skilled artisans in the field of polymorph and solvate screening.
• the vanillyl ether compounds exist as a co-crystal with one or more other compounds, such as one or more other sweetener compounds.
• the vanillyl ether compounds can form a co-crystal with any suitable compound.
• suitable compounds include fructose, glucose, galactose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, allulose, sugar alcohols (such as erythritol, sorbitol, xylitol, and the like), sucralose, steviol glycosides (such as rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside M, and the like natural stevioside compounds), other mogrosides (such as mogroside V, isomogroside V, siamenoside I, isomogroside IIIE, the 1,6-a isomer of siamenoside I, and the like), aspartame, saccharin
• the vanillyl ether compounds are in the form of a dry particle.
• dry particles can be formed by standard techniques in the art, such as dry granulation, wet granulation, and the like.
• Such particles can also contain a number of excipients, including, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate, and sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, such as starch, cellulosic materials, and alginic acid; binding agents, such as gelatin, guar gum, and acacia; and lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and talc.
• excipients typically used in food and beverage products can also be included, such as typical foodstuff materials.
• the vanillyl ether compounds are in the form of a liquid solution or a liquid suspension.
• Such compositions can also include: carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide such as lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example, heptadecaethyl-eneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate.
• Such compositions can also include one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and the like.
• Such liquid suspensions and solutions have a liquid carrier.
• the liquid carrier comprises water.
• the liquid composition is an emulsion, such as an oil-in-water or a water-in-oil emulsion.
• water may be too polar to dissolve the vanillyl ether compounds to the desired concentration.
• it can be desirable to introduce water-miscible solvents, such as alcohols, glycols, polyols, and the like, to the solvent to enhance solubilization of the vanillyl ether compounds.
• the vanillyl ether compounds are in the form of a solution, i.e., are solvated within a liquid carrier.
• the liquid carrier is an aqueous carrier.
• solutions can be diluted to any suitable concentration.
• the disclosure provides uses of vanillyl ether compounds according to any of the embodiments set forth above to modify the flavor of a distilled spirit.
• the disclosure provides methods of modifying the flavor of a distilled spirit, the method comprising introducing vanillyl ether compounds to a distilled spirit or to a beverage composition comprising a distilled spirit.
• the use of the vanillyl ether compounds in combination with a distilled spirit improves the taste of the distilled spirit, or a beverage made therefrom, by giving the spirit or beverage a more rounded and less sharp taste.
• the distilled spirit is grain alcohol, which is often blended with more refined spirits to reduce the cost of the overall beverage.
• the vanillyl ether compounds can reduce some of the unpleasant taste of the grain alcohol, and thereby make a cheaper beverage taste like a more expensive beverage. In other instances, including the vanillyl ether compounds can reduce the number of times that a spirit needs to be distilled.
• modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises reducing the astringency of the distilled spirit. In another embodiment of the uses and methods set forth herein, modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises reducing or masking the bitterness of the distilled spirit. In another embodiment of the uses and methods set forth herein, modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises reducing the burning of the distilled spirit. In another embodiment of the uses and methods set forth herein, modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises reducing the sharpness of the distilled spirit. In another embodiment of the uses and methods set forth herein, modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises enhancing the mouthfeel of the distilled spirit.
• modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises enhancing the perceived roundedness of the distilled spirit. In another embodiment of the uses and methods set forth herein, modifying the flavor of the distilled spirit comprises enhancing the perceived sweetness of the distilled spirit.
• the vanillyl ether compounds can be used at any suitable concentration in the distilled spirit or the resulting beverage.
• the vanillyl ethers are introduced or used in the distilled spirit or beverage at a concentration ranging from 0.01 ppm to 100 ppm, 0.1 ppm to 100 ppm, or from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, or from 2 ppm to 25 ppm, based on the total weight of the distilled spirit or beverage.
• the distilled spirit is derived from fermenting a composition comprising the juice of one of more fruits.
• fruit that can be used include grapes, apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, and the like.
• the distilled spirit is derived from fermenting a composition comprising enzyme-treated grain products in which the starch in the grain has been converted to fermentable sugars.
• grains that can be used include barley, wheat, com, rye, rice, potato, yam, sweet potato, and the like.
• Such grain-derived distilled spirits can be referred to as “grain spirits.”
• the distilled spirit is a grain spirit.
• Other sugar-containing materials such as sugar cane, sugar beet, and agave, can also be used.
• the distilled spirits always contain some amount of water. In some cases, where the distillation is particularly efficient, the distilled spirit comprises only about 5% water by volume. In general, the percentage is much higher. In some embodiments, the distilled spirit is diluted via the addition of water following the distillation.
• the distilled spirit contains “congeners,” which are taste or aroma compounds that pass from the fermented product into the distilled spirit during the distillation process.
• congeners are taste or aroma compounds that pass from the fermented product into the distilled spirit during the distillation process.
• Such compounds provide various distilled spirits with their characteristic taste and aroma profile.
• these congeners impart pleasant tasted.
• beverages such as brandy and grappa can exhibit a characteristically sweet taste due to the presence of certain congeners that impart a perceived sweetness.
• other congeners impart an unpleasant taste, such as the sharp or astringent taste characteristic of unaged grain spirit.
• Distilled spirits are often aged in wooden casks or barrels for the purpose of reducing the presence of such unpleasant congeners (for example, via chemical reactions or evaporation) or to introduce compounds from the cask or barrel that mask the unpleasant taste of certain unpleasant congeners.
• the term “distilled spirit” can refer to either unaged or aged spirits.
• the distilled spirit is an unaged distilled spirit, meaning that the spirit has not been aged for any time in a wooden cask or barrel.
• the distilled spirit is an aged spirit, which has been aged in a wooden cask or barrel for a period of time, for example, no more than 1 year, or no more than 2 years, or no more than 3 years, or no more than 4 years, or no more than 5 years, or no more than 6 years.
• the preceding uses and methods involve using the using or introducing the vanillyl ether compounds with or to a distilled spirit.
• Those distilled spirits plus the vanillyl ether compounds can themselves form beverage compositions, for example, with some dilution with water to reduce the alcohol content of the distilled spirit to a more palatable level, such as at least 20% alcohol by volume, or at least 25% alcohol by volume, or at least 30% alcohol by volume, or at least 35% alcohol by volume, or at least 40% alcohol by volume.
• beverage compositions may contain other ingredients, however, as described below.
• the disclosure provides beverage compositions comprising a distilled spirit and a vanillyl ether compound.
• the distilled spirit is derived from fermenting a composition comprising the juice of one of more fruits.
• fruit that can be used include grapes, apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, and the like.
• the distilled spirit is derived from fermenting a composition comprising enzyme-treated grain products in which the starch in the grain has been converted to fermentable sugars.
• grains that can be used include barley, wheat, com, rye, rice, potato, yam, sweet potato, and the like.
• Such grain-derived distilled spirits can be referred to as “grain spirits.”
• the distilled spirit is a grain spirit.
• Other sugar-containing materials such as sugar cane, sugar beet, and agave, can also be used.
• the distilled spirits always contain some amount of water. In some cases, where the distillation is particularly efficient, the distilled spirit comprises only about 5% water by volume. In general, the percentage is much higher. In some embodiments, the distilled spirit is diluted via the addition of water following the distillation.
• the distilled spirit contains “congeners,” which are taste or aroma compounds that pass from the fermented product into the distilled spirit during the distillation process.
• congeners are taste or aroma compounds that pass from the fermented product into the distilled spirit during the distillation process.
• Such compounds provide various distilled spirits with their characteristic taste and aroma profile.
• these congeners impart pleasant tasted.
• beverages such as brandy and grappa can exhibit a characteristically sweet taste due to the presence of certain congeners that impart a perceived sweetness.
• other congeners impart an unpleasant taste, such as the sharp or astringent taste characteristic of unaged grain spirit.
• Distilled spirits are often aged in wooden casks or barrels for the purpose of reducing the presence of such unpleasant congeners (for example, via chemical reactions or evaporation) or to introduce compounds from the cask or barrel that mask the unpleasant taste of certain unpleasant congeners.
• the term “distilled spirit” can refer to either unaged or aged spirits.
• the distilled spirit is an unaged distilled spirit, meaning that the spirit has not been aged for any time in a wooden cask or barrel.
• the distilled spirit is an aged spirit, which has been aged in a wooden cask or barrel for a period of time, for example, no more than 1 year, or no more than 2 years, or no more than 3 years, or no more than 4 years, or no more than 5 years, or no more than 6 years.
• the distilled spirit can be diluted with water to reduce the alcohol content of the distilled spirit to a more palatable level, such as at least 20% alcohol by volume, or at least 25% alcohol by volume, or at least 30% alcohol by volume, or at least 35% alcohol by volume, or at least 40% alcohol by volume.
• the beverage composition comprises a blend of distilled spirits.
• the beverage composition can comprise a blend of an unaged distilled spirit with one or more aged distilled spirits, such that the inclusion of the vanillyl ether compound in the beverage composition allows one to use the unaged distilled spirit at higher concentrations without imparting an unpleasant taste.
• the beverage composition can include the vanillyl ether compound at any suitable concentration.
• the beverage composition comprises the vanillyl ether compound at a concentration ranging from 0.01 ppm to 100 ppm, 0.1 ppm to 100 ppm, or from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, or from 2 ppm to 25 ppm, based on the total weight the beverage composition.
• the beverage composition comprises one or more bitter tastants.
• the bitter tastant is a high-intensity sweetener, such as acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, cyclamate, saccharin, sucralose, steviol glycodises (such as rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside M, rebaudioside D, or rebaudioside E), and mogrosides (such as mogroside III, mogroside IV, mogroside V, siamenoside I, isomogroside V, mogroside IVE, isomogroside IV, mogroside IIIE, 11-oxomogroside V, or the 1,6-a isomer of siamenoside I).
• the bitter tastant is a potassium salt, such as potassium chloride, which is often used as a partial or complete replacement of sodium chloride in certain low-sodium or zero-sodium beverages.
• the bitter tastant is caffeine, quinine, green tea, catechins, polyphenols (such as a polyphenol antioxidants), tannins, green robusta coffee extract, green coffee extract, menthol, and the like.
• polyphenols such as a polyphenol antioxidants
• tannins green robusta coffee extract, green coffee extract, menthol, and the like.
• Such compounds commonly occur in various natural foods products, such as tea and coffee, and in packaged food products, such as instant tea, instant coffee, packaged beverages, and the like.
• the beverage composition can include any suitable sweeteners or combination of sweeteners.
• the sweetener is a common saccharide sweeteners, such as sucrose, fructose, glucose, and sweetener compositions comprising natural sugars, such as com syrup (including high fructose com syrup) or other syrups or sweetener concentrates derived from natural fruit and vegetable sources.
• the sweetener is sucrose, fructose, or a combination thereof.
• the sweetener is sucrose.
• the sweetener is selected from rare natural sugars including D-allose, D-psicose, L-ribose, D-tagatose, L-glucose, L-fucose, L-arbinose, D-turanose, and D-leucrose.
• the sweetener is selected from semi-synthetic “sugar alcohol” sweeteners such as erythritol, isomalt, lactitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltodextrin, and the like.
• the sweetener is selected from artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, cyclamate, sucralose, and alitame.
• the sweetener is selected from the group consisting of cyclamic acid, mogroside, tagatose, maltose, galactose, mannose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, allulose, neotame and other aspartame derivatives, glucose, D-tryptophan, glycine, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, hydrogenated glucose syrup (HGS), hydrogenated starch hydrolyzate (HSH), stevioside, rebaudioside A, other sweet Stevia-based glycosides, chemically modified steviol glycosides (such as glucosylated steviol glycosides), mogrosides, chemically modified mogrosides (such as glucosylated mogrosides),
• the sweetener is a combination of two or more of the sweeteners set forth in this paragraph. In some embodiments, the sweetener may combinations of two, three, four or five sweeteners as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the sweetener may be a sugar. In some embodiments, the sweetener may be a combination of one or more sugars and other natural and artificial sweeteners. In some embodiments, the sweetener is a sugar. In some embodiments, the sugar is cane sugar. In some embodiments, the sugar is beet sugar. In some embodiments, the sugar may be sucrose, fructose, glucose or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the sugar may be sucrose. In some embodiments, the sugar may be a combination of fructose and glucose.
• the sweetener can also include, for example, sweetener compositions comprising one or more natural or synthetic carbohydrate, such as com syrup, high fructose com syrup, high maltose com symp, glucose syrup, sucralose symp, hydrogenated glucose syrup (HGS), hydrogenated starch hydrolyzate (HSH), or other syrups or sweetener concentrates derived from natural fruit and vegetable sources, or semi-synthetic “sugar alcohol” sweeteners such as polyols.
• sweetener compositions comprising one or more natural or synthetic carbohydrate, such as com syrup, high fructose com syrup, high maltose com symp, glucose syrup, sucralose symp, hydrogenated glucose syrup (HGS), hydrogenated starch hydrolyzate (HSH), or other syrups or sweetener concentrates derived from natural fruit and vegetable sources, or semi-synthetic “sugar alcohol” sweeteners such as polyols.
• Non-limiting examples of polyols in some embodiments include erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol (glycerin), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo- oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, reduced glucose syrup, isomaltulose, maltodextrin, and the like, and sugar alcohols or any other carbohydrates or combinations thereof capable of being reduced which do not adversely affect taste.
• the sweetener may be a natural or synthetic sweetener that includes, but is not limited to, agave inulin, agave nectar, agave syrup, amazake, brazzein, brown rice syrup, coconut crystals, coconut sugars, coconut syrup, date sugar, fructans (also referred to as inulin fiber, fructo-oligosaccharides, or oligo-fructose), green stevia powder, stevia rebaudiana, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside I, rebaudioside H, rebaudioside L, rebaudioside K, rebaudioside J, rebaudioside N, rebaudioside O, rebaudioside M and other sweet stevia-based glycosides, stevioside, stevioside extracts, honey, Jerusalem artichoke syrup, licorice root,
• Additional sweeteners also include combinations of any two or more of any of the aforementioned sweeteners.
• the sweetener may comprise combinations of two, three, four or five sweeteners as disclosed herein.
• the sweetener may be a sugar.
• the sweetener may be a combination of one or more sugars and other natural and artificial sweeteners.
• the sweetener is a caloric sweetener, such as sucrose, fructose, xylitol, erythritol, or combinations thereof.
• the ingestible compositions are free (or, in some embodiments) substantially free of stevia-derived sweeteners, such as steviol glycosides, glucosylated steviol glycosides, or rebaudiosides.
• beverage compositions can, in certain embodiments, comprise any additional ingredients or combination of ingredients as are commonly used in beverage products, including, but not limited to: acids, including, for example citric acid, phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium acid sulfate, lactic acid, or tartaric acid; coloring agents, including, for example caramel color, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1, Red #3, purple carrot, black carrot juice, purple sweet potato, vegetable juice, fruit juice, beta carotene, turmeric curcumin, or titanium dioxide; preservatives, including, for example sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium metabisulfate, sorbic acid, or benzoic acid; antioxidants including, for example ascorbic acid, calcium disodium EDTA, alpha tocopherols, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract, grape seed extract, resveratrol, or sodium hexametaphosphate; vitamins or functional ingredients including, for example resveratrol, Co-QlO, omega 3
• the beverage compositions can have any suitable pH.
• the flavor-modifying compounds enhance the sweetness of a sweetener under a broad range of pH, e.g., from lower pH to neutral pH.
• the lower and neutral pH includes, but is not limited to, a pH from 1.5 to 9.0, or from 2.5 to 8.5; from 3.0 to 8.0; from 3.5 to 7.5; and from 4.0 to 7.
• compounds as disclosed and described herein, individually or in combination can enhance the perceived sweetness of a fixed concentration of a sweetener in taste tests at a compound concentration of 50 pM, 40 pM, 30 pM, 20 pM, or 10 pM at both low to neutral pH value.
• the enhancement factor of the compounds as disclosed and described herein, individually or in combination, at the lower pH is substantially similar to the enhancement factor of the compounds at neutral pH.
• Such consistent sweet enhancing property under a broad range of pH allow a broad use in a wide variety of foods and beverages of the compounds as disclosed and described herein, individually or in combination.
• the beverage composition comprises a flavoring.
• Any suitable flavoring can be used.
• the flavoring comprises synthetic flavor oils and flavoring aromatics or oils, oleoresins and extracts derived from plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, and so forth, or combinations thereof.
• Non-limiting examples of flavor oils include spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate), peppermint oil, Japanese mint oil, clove oil, bay oil, anise oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, cedar leaf oil, oil of nutmeg, allspice, oil of sage, mace, oil of bitter almonds, and cassia oil.
• Non-limiting examples of other flavors include natural and synthetic fruit flavors such as vanilla, and citrus oils including lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, yazu, sudachi, and fruit essences including apple, pear, peach, grape, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, watermelon, apricot, banana, melon, apricot, ume, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, tropical fruit, mango, mangosteen, pomegranate, papaya and so forth.
• natural and synthetic fruit flavors such as vanilla, and citrus oils including lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, yazu, sudachi, and fruit essences including apple, pear, peach, grape, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, watermelon, apricot, banana, melon, apricot, ume, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, tropical fruit, mango, mangosteen, pomegranate, papaya and so forth.
• Other potential flavors include a milk flavor, a butter flavor, a cheese flavor, a cream flavor, and a yogurt flavor; a vanilla flavor; tea or coffee flavors, such as a green tea flavor, a oolong tea flavor, a tea flavor, a cocoa flavor, a chocolate flavor, and a coffee flavor; mint flavors, such as a peppermint flavor, a spearmint flavor, and a Japanese mint flavor; spicy flavors, such as an asafetida flavor, an ajowan flavor, an anise flavor, an angelica flavor, a fennel flavor, an allspice flavor, a cinnamon flavor, a chamomile flavor, a mustard flavor, a cardamom flavor, a caraway flavor, a cumin flavor, a clove flavor, a pepper flavor, a coriander flavor, a sassafras flavor, a savory flavor, a Zanthoxyli Fructus flavor, a perilla flavor, a juniper berry
• flavoring agents may be used in liquid or solid form and may be used individually or in admixture.
• the most commonly used flavor agents are agents that impart flavors such as vanilla, French vanilla, chocolate, banana, lemon, hazelnut, coconut, almond, strawberry, mocha, coffee, tea, chai, cinnamon, caramel, cream, brown sugar, toffee, pecan, butter pecan, toffee, Irish creme, white chocolate, raspberry, pumpkin pie spice, peppermint, or any combination thereof.
• the beverage composition comprises vanillin or a vanillin analogue, which impart a vanilla flavor to the flavoring.
• the ingestible composition comprises one or more lactones, which impart a creamy flavor to the composition.
• the beverage composition comprises a sweetness enhancer.
• Any suitable sweetness enhancer can be used in the ingestible compositions disclosed herein, including synthetic sweetness enhancers, natural sweetness enhancers, or any combinations thereof.
• suitable synthetic sweetness enhancers include, but are not limited to, A-(l-((4-amino-2,2-dioxo-17 -benzo[c][ l,2,6]thiadiazin-5-yl)oxy)-2-methylpropan- 2-yl)isonicotinamide, or any of its comestbly acceptable salts, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, or any compounds set forth in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,541,421; 8,815,956; 9,834,544; 8,592,592; 8,877,922; 9,000,054; and 9,000,051, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0119032.
• Suitable examples of natural sweetness enhancers include, but are not limited to, hesperetin dihydrochalcone, hesperetin dihydrochalcone-4’-O’glucoside, neohesperetin dihydrochalcone, brazzein, hesperidin, phyllodulcin, naringenin, naringin, phloretin, glucosylated steviol glycosides, (2R,3R)-3-acetoxy-5,7,4’-trihydroxyflavanone, (2R,3R)-3-acetoxy-5,7,3’-trihydroxy-4’-methoxyflavanone, rubusosides, thaumatin, monellin, miraculin, glycyrrhizin and comestible acceptable salts thereof (such as the monoammonium salt), naringin dihydrochalcone, myricetin, nobiletin, polymethoxyflavones,
• glucosylated steviol glycoside refers to the product of enzymatically glucosylating natural steviol glycoside compounds.
• the glucosylation generally occurs through a glycosidic bond, such as an a-1,2 bond, an a-1,4 bond, an a-1.6 bond, a P-1,2 bond, a P-1,4 bond, a P-1,6 bond, and so forth.
• the beverage composition comprises 3-((4-amino-2,2-dioxo-17 -benzo[c][l,2,6]thiadiazin-5-yl)oxy)- 2,2-di methy 1 -N-propy 1 -propanami de, N-( 1 -((4-amino-2,2-dioxo- 1 //-benzo [c] [1,2,6]- thiadiazin-5-yl)oxy)-2-methyl-propan-2-yl)isonicotinamide, or a comestibly acceptable salt thereof.
• the flavor-modifying composition comprises JV-(l-((4-amino- 2,2-dioxo-17/-benzo[c][l,2,6]thiadiazin-5-yl)oxy)-2-methyl-propan-2-yl)isonicotinamide, or a comestbly acceptable salt thereof.
• the flavor-modifying composition comprises JV-(l-((4-amino-2, 2-dioxo-17/-benzo[c] [1,2, 6]thiadiazin-5-yl)oxy)- 2-methyl-propan-2-yl)isoni cotinamide.
• the beverage composition comprises one or more umami enhancing compounds.
• umami enhancing compounds include, but are not limited to, naturally derived compounds, or synthetic compounds, such as any compounds set forth in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,735,081; 8,124,121; and 8,968,708.
• the umamienhancing compound is (2R,4R)-1, 2, 4-trihydroxy -heptadec- 16-ene, (2R, 4R)- 1,2,4- trihy dr oxy heptadec- 16-yne, or a mixture thereof.
• the umamienhancing compound is (3R,5S)-l-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)decane-3,5-diol diacetate. In some embodiments, the umami-enhancing compound is /V-(heptan-4-yl)benzo- [ ⁇ 7][l,3]dioxole-5-carboxamide.
• the beverage composition comprises one or more cooling enhancing compounds.
• cooling enhancing compounds include, but are not limited to, naturally derived compounds, such as menthol or analogs thereof, or synthetic compounds, such as any compounds set forth in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,394,287 and 10,421,727.
• Non-limiting examples include N-ethyl-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy)acetamide, N-(lH-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy)acetamide, 2-(4-fluorophenoxy)- N-(lH-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)acetamide, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenoxy)-N- (lH-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-acetamide, 2-((2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-5-yl)oxy)- N-(lH-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-acetamide, 2-((2, 3 -dihydro- IH-inden- 5-yl)oxy)-N-(lH-pyrazol
• the beverage composition comprises one or more bitterness blocking or bitter masking compounds.
• bitterness blocking compounds or bitter masking include, but are not limited to, naturally derived compounds or synthetic compounds, such as any compounds set forth in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,076,491; 8,445,692; and 9,247,759.
• Non-limiting examples include 3-(l-((3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)-methyl)- 17/-pyrazol-4-yl)-l-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-imidazolidine-2, 4-dione, 4-(2,2,3-trimethyl- cyclopentyl)butanoic acid, 3P-hydroxydihydrocostunolide, 3P-hydroxypelenolide, probenecid, sakuranetin, 6-methoxysakuranetin, jaceosidin, 4’-fluoro-6-methoxyflavonone, 6,3’-dimethoxyflavonone, 6-methoxyflavonone, y-aminobutyric acid, Na,Na-bis(carbomethyl)-L-lysine, (+/-) abscisic acid, sodium gluconate, monosodium glutamate, sodium acetate, homoeriodictyol, sterubin, er
• the ingestible composition comprises one or more sour taste modulating compounds.
• the ingestible composition comprises one or more mouthfeel modifying compounds.
• mouthfeel modifying compounds include, but are not limited to, tannins, cellulosic materials, bamboo powder, and the like.
• the ingestible composition comprises one or more flavor masking compounds.
• flavor masking compounds include, but are not limited to, cellulosic materials, materials extracted from fungus, materials extracted from plants, citric acid, carbonic acid (or carbonates), and the like.
• the beverage product comprises carbon dioxide, for example, to form a carbonated beverage comprising a distilled spirits.
• Hard seltsers are a non-limiting example of such beverages.

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• 2022
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