Fusel alcohol

Fusel alcohols or fuselol, also sometimes called fusel oils in Europe, are mixtures of several higher alcohols (those with more than two carbons, chiefly

Fusel oil and fusel-oil acetates are used in the lacquer industry as high boiling point solvents.^[4]

Compounds

Excessive concentrations of some alcohols other than ethanol may cause off-flavors, sometimes described as "spicy", "hot", or "solvent-like". Some beverages, such as rum, whisky (especially bourbon), incompletely rectified vodka (e.g. Siwucha) and traditional ales and ciders, are expected to have relatively high concentrations of non-hazardous alcohols as part of their flavor profile. However, in other beverages, such as Korn, vodka and lagers, the presence of alcohols other than ethanol is considered a fault.^{[5][failed verification]}

The compounds involved are chiefly the following:^[6]

• isoamyl alcohol (isopentanol)
• 2-methyl-1-butanol - sometimes called "active" amyl alcohol
• isobutyl alcohol
  - one of the least toxic of the butanols.
• 1-propanol

• isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol), oxidized to form acetone by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver, leading to ketosis
  when ingested in large quantities.
• 1-butanol
• 1-pentanol
  (n-amyl alcohol)
• 1-hexanol
• 2-phenylethanol
• tyrosol
• tryptophol
• methionol

Distillation

During

• Alcohol (drug)
• Beer purity law (1516)
• Biofuel
• Cellulosic ethanol
• Moonshine
• Sorghum beer
• Wine chemistry

References