Spirit Sensory

FlavorActiV → Beverage → Spirits

Neutral, Whisky &
Rum Spirit Sensory

FlavorActiV is committed to promoting good sensory practices across the whole beverage industry. A team of expert taster trainers, supported by consultant beverage experts, are combining their years of insider experience with advanced human calibration tools, tailored sensory programmes and instruments to give unparalleled sensory support.

FlavorActiV have a history of working alongside the industry’s leading organisations, establishing and maintaining good sensory practices globally. Our work with Scotch Whisky Research Institute in developing their sensory panel proficiency scheme now acts as a global standard for correct spirit proficiency practices. Moving forward, FlavorActiV continues to build on its goal of establishing an industry-wide global spirit flavour language, supported initally by FlavorActiV’s GMP flavour standards to train tasters to recognise defects and positives in spirits, and progressing to measure and maintain tasters skills and education level through advanced proprietary calibration tools and software.

If you have any questions about spirit sensory management, please contact spirits@flavoractiv.com.

FlavorActiV GMP Flavour Reference Standards

FlavorActiV’s pharmaceutical grade, GMP Flavour Standards are safe to smell, taste and drink, and can be used in almost any liquid to impart a real flavour, off-note, or taint. The spirit flavour standards were developed in FlavorActiV's dedicated pharmaceutical facility in the UK are sold individually in packs of 5 capsules, each capsule separately blister packed to provide flavour protection and prolonged shelf life. Production adheres to strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) pharmaceutical quality controls. FlavorActiV's dedicated GMP Flavour Centre is certified and regulated by the UK Government’s Medicine Regulatory & Healthcare Product Agency (MHRA) to a standard which far exceed ISO 9001, ISO 17025 or any food grade certification.

Each of the 33 flavours below has undergone evaluation by FlavorActiV's Sensory Systems team as well as the spirits industry directly prior to inclusion within FlavorActiV's latest Spirit Flavour Lexicon and Library as important spirit flavour reference standards.

Acetaldehyde (Acetal)
Pungent, Green Fruit, Leafy, Grassy
Acetaldehyde		Buy Now ❱
Acetic Acid
Acedic, Sharp, Sour, Vinegar
Acetic		Buy Now ❱
Astringent
Puckery, Dried Out Sensation On Palate
Saponin		Buy Now ❱
Brett-Barnyard
Band Aid, Medicinal, Sweaty, Horses
4-Ethyl Phenol		Buy Now ❱
Butyric
Baby Vomit, Rancid, Cheesy, Putrid
Butyric Acid		Buy Now ❱
Caprylic
Goatish, Tallow, Veg Oil, Waxy
Octanoic Acid		Buy Now ❱
Cooked Vegetables
Cooked Cauliflower / Cabbage
Methylthioacetate		Buy Now ❱
Diacetyl
Buttery, Butterscotch, Creamy, Toffee
Butane-2,3-dione		Buy Now ❱
DMS
Sweetcorn, Cabbage, Shellfish, Oyster
Dimethyl Sulphide		Buy Now ❱
Dry Hay / Plastic
Hay-like, Straw, Husky
Nonanal		Buy Now ❱
Earthy
Dusty, Chalky
2-Ethyl Fenchol		Buy Now ❱
Ethyl Acetate
Fruity, Nail Enamel, Solvent, Glue
Ethyl Acetate		Buy Now ❱
Ethyl Butyrate
Pineapple, Banana, Mango
Ethyl Butyrate		Buy Now ❱
Ethyl Hexanoate
Fruity, Pineapple, Apple, Aniseed
Ethyl Hexanoate		Buy Now ❱
Geraniol
Floral, Rose Water
Geraniol		Buy Now ❱
H2S
Sulphury, Rotten Eggs
Hydrogen Sulphide		Buy Now ❱
Isoamyl Acetate
Fruity, Banana
Isoamyl Acetate		Buy Now ❱
Isoamyl Alcohol
Fusel Oil, Fruity, Banana, Estery
Isoamyl Alcohol		Buy Now ❱
Isovaleric
Sweaty, Cheesy, Rancid
Isovaleric Acid		Buy Now ❱
Leathery
Leather
Pyralone (6-1 Methyl Propyl) Quinolone		Buy Now ❱
Malty / Biscuity
Toasted Grain, Malt
2-Acetylpyridin		Buy Now ❱
Medicinal
Peaty, Phenolic
2-Methyl Phenol		Buy Now ❱
Mercaptan
Sulphury, Drain Gas, Butana-like
Ethanethiol (Ethyl Mercaptan)		Buy Now ❱
Metallic
Metal, Iron, rust, Blook-like
Ferrous Sulphate		Buy Now ❱
Musty
Cork, Dampness
2,4,6 Trichloroanisole		Buy Now ❱
Plastics
Styrene, Acrylic, Solvent
Styrene		Buy Now ❱
Phenolic
Spicy, Clove
4-Vinyl Guiacol		Buy Now ❱
Rotten Vegetable
Sulphury
Dimethyl Disulphide (DMDS)		Buy Now ❱
Smoky
Peaty, Smoky
Guiacol		Buy Now ❱
Spicy
Spice, Clove
Eugenol		Buy Now ❱
Sour
Sour Basic Taste
Citric Acid		Buy Now ❱
Vanilla
Oak Wood, Sweet Vanillin, Bouron-like
Vanillin		Buy Now ❱
Whisky Lactone
Coconut, Sweet Vanillin, Oak Wood
Whisky Lactone		Buy Now ❱

Spirit Sensory Plan

1 › Train
Train using FlavorActiV's GMP Coffee Flavour Standards & Kits. Our multi-lingual team provide training in over 15 languages.
2 › Calibrate
Receive regular spirit proficiency kits to test your abilities. Input data into our proprietary software to benchmark your results globally.
3 › Maintain
FlavorActiV advanced training sessions and industry specific workshops will see your sensory knowledge continually grow across the range of flavour reference standards.
4 › Improve
Continual optimisation and analysis of support and package coupled with supply of GMP Flavour Standards.