Abstract
To classify Japanese rum（n＝18）and imported rum（n＝32）, we analyzed 78 volatile compounds by solid phase micro extraction（SPME）, and 6 volatile compounds by direct head space analysis. There was a significant difference in 34 volatile compounds between Jananese rum and rum made in Caribbean contries and bordering the Indian Ocean. In a stepwise discriminant analysis procedure using 6 volatile compounds（1-hexanol, guaiacol, diethyl succinate, 2-methylbutyl acetate, acetaldehyde and furfural）, all of 50 samples were rightly classified. Estimating the accuracy of the discriminant analysis by cross validation, the ratios of appropriate classification were 100 %.
To test the robustness of a discrimination coefficient obtained, a discrimination analysis of Japanese rum and different imported rum（n＝40）provided the ratios of appropriate classification at 92.5 %. We believe that Japanese rum can be distinguished from imported rum with relatively high precision by the discriminant analysis. In addition, the production process of Japanese rum speculated from compounds was given consideration.
