Through-bottle spectroscopy as a tool for quality control and anti-counterfeiting of Brandy and Cognac

TL;DR

This paper presents a portable, non-destructive spectroscopy method combining fluorescence and Raman signals to authenticate and assess the quality of Cognac and Brandy through bottles, effectively detecting counterfeits with high accuracy.

Contribution

The study introduces focus-matched inverse spatially offset spectroscopy for through-bottle analysis, enabling accurate identification of age, origin, spoilage, and counterfeit detection in high-value spirits.

Findings

98% accuracy in counterfeit detection

Effective differentiation of genuine and fake Cognacs

Reliable assessment of age and spoilage indicators

Abstract

Counterfeiting of premium spirits poses significant economic and health risks, that could be tackled by robust, accurate, portable and non-destructive through-bottle measurements. Here, we demonstrate the capability of focus-matched inverse spatially offset spectroscopy, combining fluorescence and Raman signals, for authenticating Cognac and Brandy. The technique accurately identifies age classification, bottling year, spoilage due to elevated storage temperatures, and distinguishes between Cognac brands. Critically, our method effectively differentiates genuine Cognacs from counterfeit products, correctly identifying 98% of counterfeit samples. This shows the promise of through-bottle spectroscopy as a powerful tool for supply chain integrity and consumer protection in the high-value spirits market.