Resumen
Maceration parameters such as alcohol and mistletoe content were studied to obtain high-quality macerates to produce biska, a traditional Istrian herbal spirit. An ethanol?water solution containing 25, 40, 55, and 70 v/v% ethanol and 20, 40, and 80 g/L mistletoe was macerated and pH, total acids, extract content, and color parameters were measured. Volatile compounds were determined by GC/MS. More than 150 different volatile compounds were detected. The composition of the ethanol?water solution and mistletoe content affects the values of total extract, total acids, and color. Samples with lower alcohol content have a higher number of different acids, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and ketones, while macerates with higher alcohol content are rich in hydrocarbons and terpenes. Ethyl decanoate; ethyl hexynoate; ethyl octanoate; benzaldehyde; hexanal; octanal; and the terpene compounds limonene, cymene, menthone, humulene, eucalyptol, linalol, and borneol contribute significantly to the aroma of the macerates due to a low odor threshold. Ylangene and a- and ß-bourbonene are tentatively determined new terpene molecules that are not found in the mistletoe literature, as well as thujone, which was also detected. For the preparation of aromatic macerates, 40?50 v/v% ethanol and about 40 g/L mistletoe should be used.