The aim of this study was to produce Brazilian sugar cane spirits (cachaça) in a laboratory scale using yeasts isolated from distilleries of different regions in Minas Gerais state evaluating and comparing their chemical composition to those of commercial brands of cachaça. The selected distilleries are from the segment of cachaça artisanal production, which includes different sensorial and chemical procedures from the ones produced in an industrial scale. Some kinetic processes were evaluated analyzing the alcoholic content and acidity produced during fermentation. Some fermenting musts showed 9 ºGL of ethanol and 55 mg.100 mL-1 of acidity. The compounds analyzed by gas chromatography were acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, 1-propanol, isobutyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, furfural, and acetic acid. The concentration of the total higher alcohols were the greatest, mainly the isoamyl alcohol (the, highest) and acetic acid. The chemical profiles of the cachaças varied considerably (40,59 to 671,86 mg of acetic acid.100 mL-1 anhydrous alcohol and 20,68 to 178,6 mg of acetaldehyde.100 mL-1 anhydrous alcohol) and all compositions were contrasted with the legal standards of the Brazilian legislation.
yeast; cachaça; secondary compounds; gas chromatography
