THE SCIENCE OF SPIRTS

TASTING METHODS 4

Olfactory Theory and Anesthetic Effects of Alcohol

By George F Manska, Corporate Strategy Officer, inventor & entrepreneur, Chief Research & Development Arsilica, Inc. A lmost everyone, including experienced tasters and nosers, underestimates the power of anesthetic ethanol in spirits and its effect on olfactory (smell) sensitivity. This synopsis should clarify the issue and place it in proper perspective.

LOCK AND KEY: THE BASIC THEORY OF OLFACTORY

In 2004, the Nobel prize was awarded to Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck for discovering odorant receptor function and organization of the olfactory system has become the mainstay of olfactory sensory research. Every receptor is a lock, and every aroma is a key. Different receptors detect different families of aroma molecules. When a compatible receptor senses an aroma molecule, the lock is unlocked, and a smell signal is sent to the brain for recognition. Humans have at least 6 million receptors; some say higher. Whichever aroma molecule key reaches the compatible receptor (keyhole for the lock) first occupies that receptor until washed away by a mucous flush. Ethanol quickly binds with most receptors, rendering them useless.

*Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck 2004 Nobel Prize for their discoveries of odorant receptor function and the organization of the olfactory system - the prominent theory of smell.

All material, trademarks, content, slides property of Arsilica, Inc 2012-2018 and may not be used or copied without explicit permission. THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITS

All material, trademarks, content, slides property of Arsilica, Inc 2012-2018 and may not be used or copied without explicit permission.

HOW MUCH ETHANOL IS THERE IN SPIRITS?

A 40% ABV (alcohol by volume) spirit evaporates quickly. Place two identical glasses on the kitchen counter, one with ½ ounce whisky and one with ½ ounce water. After 24 hours, the liquid level in the whisky glass is much lower or has dried up entirely. Alcohol evaporates first and quickest of any compound in a spirit because it is a simple molecular shape; the smallest mass molecule in the spirit has a lower surface tension and a lower boiling point than water. Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other. This science talk means alcohol evaporates much quicker than water. (see comparison chart) Besides water, ethanol is the most abundant compound in all spirits, bottled at 40%+ ABV (alcohol by volume). Remembering why the nurse rubs the arm with an alcohol (methanol) pad before the needle will help place the sensory effect of alcohols in perspective; most think it’s because methanol and ethanol alcohols are antiseptics (sterilizers). Still, they are also anesthetic (numbing) to human neuron receptors whether on the skin, the tongue (pallet burn or pallet overload), or in the olfactory cavity. The whisky or rum may be 40% alcohol, 59% water, and 1% other flavors in its liquid form, but the smellable evaporation cloud of aromas that emanate from a pour of straight spirits in any given moment is more like 95% ethanol, 4% water, and 1% character aromas.

THE MAJOR PROBLEM AFFECTING SPIRITS EVALUATION:

Whiffing 95% nose-numbing anesthetic takes its toll quickly on olfactory receptors, as ethanol quickly evaporates, travels fastest, and binds to receptors before larger mass character aromas can be detected, dumbing, and numbing the nose and hindering detection of true character aromas.

Also called ethanol anesthesia, noseblindness, ethanol lock-out, anosmia, and olfactory fatigue, two general statements characterize it. “Everything smells the same,” and/or “I can’t smell anything.” This is caused by anesthetic ethanol, and there are no warning signs and no way of knowing when anesthesia begins. The only cure is to stop

All material, trademarks, content, slides property of Arsilica, Inc 2012-2018 and may not be used or copied without explicit permission.

sniffing to allow time for recovery. 70% recovery takes three to four minutes, full recovery at least seven minutes, as the mucous slowly replaces itself on the epithelium (which covers the cilia), washing away the previously attached aroma molecules.

WHAT HAPPENS TO AN EVALUATION WHEN ETHANOL ANESTHESIA OCCURS?

Memory auto-compensation kicks in to save the day bringing memories of past tastings to the conscious mind as a “shopping list” from which the evaluator may choose. Memory autocompensation begs leading questions: “If this is a whisky, I should smell honey, caramel, and oak.” The brain suggests and urges the evaluator to consider spirits from previous evaluations to aid in solving the identification problem, trying to compensate for the loss of smell. The result? Evaluation of past experiences, not the sample in the glass. “But I have my little saucer of coffee beans to sniff whenever I have trouble smelling.” Myth steeped in traditional, erroneous rationale; it simply justifies continuing to smell when symptoms of ethanol anesthesia appear. This myth has been around since the origin of perfumery (Egyptian dynasties?) and has no scientific or factual basis. Coffee beans are only pretentious “Tom Foolery,” as are the myths of smelling one’s own skin or armpit to regress the nose to neutral. Total BS. All of it. Recovery time works.

SUMMARY

Always be aware of anesthetic ethanol if serious about evaluating spirits. Use of the NEAT glass is preferred over tumblers, thistles, tulips, and other convergent rim glassware. Ignorance or denial of the effects of ethanol anesthesia will hurt your pocketbook and hinder understanding and appreciation of finely made, highest quality spirits. Maximum appreciation of wine and spirits awaits those who understand and practice the prevention of ethanol anesthesia.

George F Manska

Chief of Research and Development, Arsilica, Inc., engineer, inventor of the NEAT glass, and sensory science researcher.

Mission: Replace misinformation with scientific truth through consumer education.

Contact Information:

Phone: 702.332.7305 Email: george@arsilica.com Business mailing address: 452 Silverado Ranch Blvd, Ste #222, Las Vegas, NV, 89183.

SAMMY HAGAR & GUY FIERI

PR ES ENT