Monday, 07 March 2022
A University of Nottingham researcher is appealing for gin producers to get in touch to help support a research project into the breadth of flavour profiles within the UK gin market, that could help distillers with new flavour development and flavour quality.
Dr Hebe Parr, a research scientist in the Flavour Research Group, is looking to establish flavour profiles of gins from the UK by separating, identifying, and quantifying the flavour compounds in the samples by Gas Chromatography.
Understanding the flavour composition of a gin range can help with product development by identifying unique aspects of the range. This form of flavour analysis can also identify undesirable flavour compounds, enabling the targeted reduction of their perception.
The Food Innovation Centre at the university has spearheaded the appeal to gin makers across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. But now the appeal is being widened across the UK in the hope that gin producers from further afield will join the research project.
We are looking for 5ml samples of as many gins as possible, but my target is around 1,000 different gins. The samples will not be consumed and will be used for instrumental analysis only. We can share a summary of this analysis with the producer of the gin.
The samples can be purchased if required and Dr Parr can either visit the distillery or producer or arrange delivery of sample bottles with a prepaid return label. She is looking for samples from distillers and gin producers of all sizes; no manufacturer is too small.
“If it’s commercially available, I would like a small sample of it,” added Dr Parr, who completed her PhD in the flavour of roasted malts in beers at the University of Nottingham in 2020 and will spend the next year on the research project into gin flavours.
Flavoured Gin
From 2020 to 2022, the number of UK gin distillers increased by 15%, fuelling the surge in consumer demand for gin. With well over 6,000 brands worldwide, UK gin distillers are compelled to innovate to remain relevant in this dynamic industry.
The Flavour Research Group is part of the International Flavour Research Centre at the University of Nottingham conducting world-leading research in food and flavour chemistry.
The Food Innovation Centre, based at the Bioenergy and Brewing Science building at the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington campus, offers free support to eligible small and medium-sized food and drink manufacturers in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire under the Driving Research and Innovation project - a three-year project that runs until the end of December 2022. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the D2N2 LEP, the project is run by the Food Innovation Centre at the University of Nottingham School of Biosciences, in conjunction with the Chemistry Innovation Laboratory in the School of Chemistry and Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and in association with the Midlands Engine. It is a unique collaboration project that provides free specialist innovation support to small and medium-sized businesses.
We have a number of amazing gin producers in the East Midlands, who we were delighted to put in touch with Dr Parr and we are looking forward to hearing how the research develops as producers and distillers across the UK come on board.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Parr on hebe.parr1@nottingham.ac.uk.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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