Abstract:In order to investigate in depth the melon spirits prepared by two classical distillation methods, Cognac method (double distillation) and Armagnac method (retort distillation), the aroma of the spirits were analyzed and compared using four different methods:quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), qualitative and quantitative of flavor substance analysis, odor activity value (OAV) analysis and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). The results of QDA showed that the two spirits presented different styles, with significant differences (P<0.01) in the four descriptors of preference, fruitiness, cucumber odor and fatty odor. Both also had some similarities, i.e., preference, floral and fruitiness were lower, cucumber odor and fatty odor were prominent. The qualitative and quantitative analysis indicated significant differences in the concentration of 53 out of 80 aroma substances, and the composition of total esters, alcohols, aldehydes and acids in the two spirits differed in proportion. Among them, the total alcohols were the highest in the Cognac spirits, accounting for 35.95% of the total aroma substances, while the Armagnac spirits contained the highest esters, accounting for 44.14%. In the aroma substances with significant differences in concentration, 32 had a contribution to overall aroma (OAV>1). (Z)-6-Nonen-1-ol was the aroma substance with the highest OAV, exceeding 4000 in both spirits. 52 Aroma substances were detected in the AEDA experiment, 24 of which had differences in flavor dilution factor (DF). (Z)-2-Nonenal, (E,E)-2,6-nonadienal, etc. all had higher DF and their DF were higher in Cognac than in Armagnac. Quantitative analysis of 21 key differential aroma substances (OAV > 1 and DF > 3) such as (Z)-2-nonenal, etc. in the samples of different alcohol contents showed that the content of these aroma substances in the initial fractions was significantly different. The significant differences in the key aroma substances of the initial distillates fractions resulted in flavor differences between the two spirits. It is hoped that the research provided some theoretical basis and data support for an in-depth understanding of the flavor of melon spirits.