Detection of counterfeit scotch whisky by 2H and 18O stable isotope analysis

Neat Scottish whiskies and the local source water used for and during whisky production have been analysed for their 2H and 18O isotopic composition by High Temperature Conversion–Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (TC/EA–IRMS). With coefficients of determination R2 for δ2H and δ18O of 0.71 and 0.88, respectively, measured δ2H and δ18O values for water used in the production of Scottish whisky were found to be well correlated with the δ2H and δ18O values observed for the corresponding whiskies. By plotting bulk 2H against bulk 18O isotope abundance data of authentic whisky and counterfeit whisky samples it was possible to discriminate between samples of authentic whisky and samples of counterfeit whisky.