Sake is a Japanese traditional alcoholic beverage, which is produced by simultaneous saccharification and alcohol
fermentation of polished and steamed rice by Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. About 300 compounds
have been identified in sake, and the contribution of individual components to the sake flavor has been examined at the
same time. However, only a few compounds could explain the characteristics alone and most of the attributes still
remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the component profile and the
attributes of sake. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS)-based non-targeted analysis was
employed to obtain the low molecular weight component profile of Japanese sake including both nonvolatile and
volatile compounds. Sake attributes and overall quality were assessed by analytical descriptive sensory test and the
prediction model of the sensory score from the component profile was constructed by means of orthogonal projections
to latent structures (OPLS) regression analysis. Our results showed that 12 sake attributes [ginjo-ka (aroma of premium
ginjo sake), grassy/aldehydic odor, sweet aroma/caramel/burnt odor, sulfury odor, sour taste, umami, bitter taste, body,
amakara (dryness), aftertaste, pungent/smoothness and appearance] and overall quality were accurately explained by
component profiles. In addition, we were able to select statistically significant components according to variable
importance on projection (VIP). Our methodology clarified the correlation between sake attribute and 200 low molecular
components and presented the importance of each component thus, providing new insights to the flavor study
of sake.