Methods of making modified alcohol containing products

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method of preparing a modified distilled alcoholic spirit, comprising contacting a corresponding starting distilled alcoholic spirit with a base under conditions that cause at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit to be reduced, to provide the modified distilled alcoholic spirit that has at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of at least 15%. Certain embodiments also provide a modified distilled alcoholic spirit prepared by the methods described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a modified distilled alcoholic spirit, comprising contacting a corresponding starting distilled alcoholic spirit with a base under conditions that cause at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit to be reduced, to provide the modified distilled alcoholic spirit that has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of at least about 15%. 
     
     
         2 . A method of preparing a modified distilled alcoholic spirit, comprising contacting a corresponding starting distilled alcoholic spirit with a base under conditions that cause the total of free carbonyl compounds in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit to be reduced, to provide the modified distilled alcoholic spirit that has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of at least about 15%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the modified distilled alcoholic spirit is whiskey, rum, brandy, tequila, soju, gin or baiju. 
     
     
         4 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the pH of the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is about 2.5 to about 4.5. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pH of the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is about 3 to about 4.4. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein the pH of the modified distilled alcoholic spirit is about 5 to about 12. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pH of the modified distilled alcoholic spirit is about 6 to about 8. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the base is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the base is sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 9 , wherein the base is a solid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 1  and  3 - 10 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced by at least about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 1  and  3 - 10 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced by at least about 40% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 1  and  3 - 10 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced by at least about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 10 , wherein the total of the free carbonyl compounds is reduced by at least about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 10 , wherein the total of the free carbonyl compounds is reduced by at least about 40% by weight. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 10 , wherein the total of the free carbonyl compounds is reduced by at least about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 16 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound is an aldehyde. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the aldehyde is selected from acetaldehyde, 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, benzaldehyde, 2-propenal, 3-methyl-2-butenal, (E)-2-hexanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced through a conversion to an acetal or hemi-acetal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 16 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound is a ketone. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the ketone is selected from 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, 2,3-butendione and 2,3-pentendione. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  or  21 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced through a conversion to a ketal or hemi-ketal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 22 , further comprising contacting the starting distilled alcoholic spirit with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 23 , further comprising contacting the modified distilled alcoholic spirit with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein contacting the modified distilled alcoholic spirit with the carbonyl scavenger agent causes at least one free carbonyl compound in the modified distilled alcoholic spirit to be reduced. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claims 23 - 25 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is selected from an alcohol, a sulfite and an amine- or amide-containing molecule. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is an alcohol. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is trehalose. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger is an amine-containing molecule. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger is an amide-containing molecule. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger is a sulfite. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the sulfite is sodium bisulfile. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any one of  claims 23 - 32 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any one of  claims 23 - 25 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is bound to a polymer. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is a polymer bound sulfonyl hydrazine. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger is a polymer bound tosyl hydrazine. 
     
     
         37 . The method of any one of  claim 1 - 36 , further comprising contacting the starting or modified distilled alcoholic spirit with at least one aldehyde, wherein the aldehyde is cinnamic aldehyde or vanillin. 
     
     
         38 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 37 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced in about two weeks. 
     
     
         39 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 37 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about two weeks. 
     
     
         40 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 37 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about 1 week. 
     
     
         41 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 37 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about 3 days. 
     
     
         42 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 41 , wherein the trigeminal ethanol related burn, smoothness, taste, aroma and/or flavor profile of the modified distilled alcoholic spirit is improved over the starting distilled alcoholic spirit. 
     
     
         43 . A modified distilled alcoholic spirit prepared by the methods of any one of  claims 1 - 42 . 
     
     
         44 . A modified distilled alcoholic spirit comprising at least one free carbonyl compound, wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced as compared to a corresponding unmodified distilled alcoholic spirit. 
     
     
         45 . A non-aged distilled alcoholic spirit with a pH greater than or equal to about 7. 
     
     
         46 . The non-aged distilled alcoholic spirit of  claim 45 , wherein the pH is greater than or equal to about 8. 
     
     
         47 . A method of preparing a modified mouthwash comprising providing a corresponding starting mouthwash with a pH less than about 5.5 and contacting it with a base to provide a modified mouthwash with a pH greater than about 6. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pH of the starting mouthwash is less than about 5. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pH of the starting mouthwash is less than about 4. 
     
     
         50 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 49 , wherein the pH of the modified mouthwash is greater than about 7. 
     
     
         51 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 49 , wherein the pH of the modified mouthwash is greater than about 8. 
     
     
         52 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 51 , wherein the starting mouthwash has an alcohol by volume content of at least about 5%. 
     
     
         53 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 51 , wherein the starting mouthwash has an alcohol by volume content of at least about 15%. 
     
     
         54 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 53 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting mouthwash is reduced by at least about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         55 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 53 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting mouthwash is reduced by at least about 50% by weight. 
     
     
         56 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 53 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting mouthwash is reduced by at least about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         57 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 56 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is an aldehyde. 
     
     
         58 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 56 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is a ketone. 
     
     
         59 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 58 , wherein the base is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         60 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 59 , wherein the base is sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         61 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 60 , further comprising contacting the starting mouthwash with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         62 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 61 , further comprising contacting the modified mouthwash with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein contacting the modified mouthwash with the carbonyl scavenger agent causes at least one free carbonyl compound in the modified mouthwash to be reduced. 
     
     
         64 . The method of any one of  claims 61 - 63 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is selected from an alcohol, a sulfite and an amine- or amide-containing molecule. 
     
     
         65 . The method of any one of  claims 61 - 64 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         66 . The method of any one of  claims 61 - 63 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is bound to a polymer. 
     
     
         67 . The method of any one of  claims 54 - 66 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting mouthwash is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about two weeks. 
     
     
         68 . The method of any one of  claims 54 - 66 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting mouthwash is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about 1 day. 
     
     
         69 . The method of any one of  claims 47 - 68 , wherein the trigeminal ethanol related burn, smoothness, taste, aroma and/or flavor profile of the modified mouthwash is improved over the starting mouthwash. 
     
     
         70 . A modified mouthwash prepared by the methods of any one of  claims 47 - 69 . 
     
     
         71 . A modified mouthwash comprising at least one free carbonyl compound, wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced as compared to a corresponding unmodified mouthwash. 
     
     
         72 . A mouthwash with a pH greater than about 6 and an alcohol by volume content of at least 5%. 
     
     
         73 . The mouthwash of  claim 72 , wherein the mouthwash has improved trigeminal ethanol related burn, smoothness, taste, aroma and/or flavor profile in comparison to a corresponding mouthwash with a pH less than about 6 and an alcohol by volume content of at least about 5%. 
     
     
         74 . A method of preparing a modified medicament comprising providing a corresponding starting medicament with a pH less than about 5 and contacting it with a base to provide a modified medicament with a pH greater than about 6, wherein the modified medicament has an alcohol by volume of at least about 5%. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the pH of the starting medicament is less than about 4. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the pH of the starting medicament is less than about 3. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the pH of the modified medicament is greater than about 7. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the pH of the modified medicament is greater than about 8. 
     
     
         79 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 78 , wherein the starting medicament has an alcohol by volume content of at least about 10%. 
     
     
         80 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 78 , wherein the starting medicament has an alcohol by volume content of at least about 15%. 
     
     
         81 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 78 , wherein the starting medicament has an alcohol by volume content of at least about 20%. 
     
     
         82 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 81 , wherein the starting medicament comprises at least one of a cough suppressant, an expectorant, a pain reliever, a fever reducer agent, an analgesic agent, a vasodilator agent, an antihistamine or an antispasmodic agent. 
     
     
         83 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 82 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting medicament is reduced by at least about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         84 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 82 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting medicament is reduced by at least about 50% by weight. 
     
     
         85 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 82 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting medicament is reduced by at least about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         86 . The method of any one of  claims 83 - 85 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is an aldehyde. 
     
     
         87 . The method of any one of  claims 83 - 85 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is a ketone. 
     
     
         88 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 87 , wherein the base is sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate or potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         89 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 88 , wherein the base is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         90 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 89 , further comprising contacting the starting medicament with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         91 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 90 , further comprising contacting the modified medicament with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein contacting the modified medicament with the carbonyl scavenger agent causes at least one free carbonyl compound in the modified medicament to be reduced. 
     
     
         93 . The method of any one of  claims 90 - 92 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is selected from an alcohol, a sulfite and an amine- or amide-containing molecule. 
     
     
         94 . The method of any one of  claims 90 - 93 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is a food grade additive. 
     
     
         95 . The method of any one of  claims 90 - 92 , wherein the carbonyl scavenger agent is bound to a polymer. 
     
     
         96 . The method of any one of  claims 83 - 95 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting medicament is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about two weeks. 
     
     
         97 . The method of any one of  claims 83 - 95 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting medicament is reduced by at least about 20% by weight in about 3 days. 
     
     
         98 . The method of any one of  claims 74 - 97 , wherein the trigeminal ethanol related burn, smoothness, taste, aroma and/or flavor profile of the modified medicament is improved over the starting medicament. 
     
     
         99 . A modified medicament prepared by the methods of any one of  claims 74 - 98 . 
     
     
         100 . A modified medicament comprising at least one free carbonyl compound, wherein the modified medicament has an alcohol by volume of at least about 5%, and wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced as compared to a corresponding unmodified medicament. 
     
     
         101 . The modified medicament of  claim 100 , wherein the at least one free carbonyl compound in the modified medicament is reduced by at least about 20% by weight as compared to the corresponding unmodified medicament. 
     
     
         102 . A medicament with a pH greater than about 5 and an alcohol by volume content of at least about 5%. 
     
     
         103 . The medicament of  claim 102 , wherein the medicament has improved trigeminal ethanol related burn, smoothness, taste, aroma and/or flavor profile in comparison to a corresponding medicament with a pH less than about 5 and an alcohol by volume content of at least about 5%. 
     
     
         104 . The medicament of any one of  claims 100 - 103 , wherein the medicament comprises at least one of a cough suppressant, an expectorant, a pain reliever, a fever reducer agent, an analgesic agent, a vasodilator agent, an antihistamine or an antispasmodic agent. 
     
     
         105 . A method of preparing a modified beer, comprising contacting a corresponding starting beer with a base under conditions that cause at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting beer to be reduced, to provide the modified beer. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the modified beer has an alcohol by volume of at least about 1%. 
     
     
         107 . The method of any one of  claims 105 - 106 , wherein the pH of the starting beer is about 2.5 to 5. 
     
     
         108 . The method of any one of  claims 105 - 107 , wherein the pH of the modified beer is about 3 to about 7.5. 
     
     
         109 . The method of any one of  claims 105 - 108 , wherein at least one free carbonyl compound is reduced by at least about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         110 . The method of any one of  claims 105 - 109 , further comprising contacting the starting beer or the modified beer with a carbonyl scavenger agent. 
     
     
         111 . A modified beer prepared by the methods of any one of  claims 105 - 110 . 
     
     
         112 . The modified beer of  claim 111 , wherein the modified beer has an alcohol by volume of at least about 1%.