Darcy S. ONeil

How to Make a Cool Drink (Ad Free)

Added 2024-08-25 16:30:09 +0000 UTC

When making a drink, most people focus on flavour, but you can also use ingredients that provide a sensation, like cooling compounds. The sensation of "cool" is similar to that of mint or menthol, but these specific compounds, like WS-23 or WS-3 "Koolada," provide that cooling sensation without any harsh or bitter flavours. This allows you to enhance your drinks without affecting the flavour.

There are many different compounds in the cooling category, but the three most common are menthol, WS-3 "Koolada," and WS-23. Menthol can have a harsh flavour, but the WS series of compounds tend to be flavourless and have no aroma; they provide a cooling sensation. This allows you to enhance a beverage, like a Mojito, giving it a little something your standard Mojito doesn't have.

Here are some details on the best cooling compounds to work with, as solubility, especially in non-alcoholic drinks, is a factor. There is also the intensity and length of the compounds to factor in. For example, WS-12 can have a lingering cooling effect for up to 25 minutes, which is probably not good if you are about to eat something in that time period. Icy spicy tacos aren't a culinary delight.

The cooling effect can vary depending on usage levels and other factors in the beverage like acidity, sweetness and other flavour compounds. I recommend using WS-23 as it has good solubility, is widely available and can be used at different levels to achieve the desired results. If you want an all-natural product, Menthyl Acetate is what you should use.

Here is a quick summary of some of the different cooling compounds.

*WS stands for Wilkinson Sword

Menthol

Has a mintiness with a somewhat hot, harsh flavour

FEMA 2665 with usage rates of up to 35 ppm beverages
Symrise recommends 5 to 25 ppm

Intensity Scale (0 to 5): 1.0 out of 5
Solubility: 420 mg/L at 25 °C

WS-23

It has a cooling effect that is similar to menthol but without the minty flavour. Taste: @ 20 PPM. High-impact cooling that lasts on the tongue and palate. Good stability at a wide pH range and heat resistance up to 200°C.

The cooling effect lasts up to 6 minutes.

WS-23 is an artificial compound not found in nature.

FEMA 3804 with usage rates of 1 to 8 ppm in beverages
Symrise Recommended Usage: 20-30 ppm in beverages

Intensity Scale (0 to 5): 0.75 out of 5

Solubility: 459 mg/L at 25 °C

CAS# 51115-67-4

WS-3 Koolada

It has a slightly more intense cooling effect than WS-23 and a slightly minty flavour but is relatively odourless. Has a refreshing effect with no hot, harsh or stinging sensation found in menthol and peppermint. Good stability at a wide pH range and heat resistance up to 200°C.

The cooling sensation lasts about 6 minutes.

FEMA 3455 (1 to 10 ppm) in beverages
Symrise recommendations: 15 to 20 ppm in beverages

Intensity Scale: 1.5 out of 5

Solubility: 21.38 mg/L @ 25 °C

CAS 39711-79-0

WS-5

WS-5 is a menthol derivative with several times the cooling intensity of WS-3 and is one of the strongest commercial coolants yet it exhibits a smooth and rounded flavour profile. Free from bitterness.

The cooling sensation lasts about 10 minutes.

FEMA 4309 with usage rates of 10-50 ppm (Alcoholic: 10-400 ppm)
Symrise: 6 to 10 ppm in beverages

Intensity Scale: 4 out of 5

Solubility: 9.51 mg/L @ 25 °C

CAS 68489-14-5

WS-10

Initial menthol taste that fades to a lingering cooling feel.

Strong cooling effect lasting up to 12 minutes.

FEMA 3784 with usage rates of 300 to 500 ppm

Intensity Scale: 4.5 out of 5

Solubility: 459 mg/L @ 25 °C

CAS: 51115-67-4

WS-12 (*Strongest)

Odour and flavourless with a strong cooling effect. WS-12 is approved for use in Europe and the US. However, the ingredient cannot be used in Japan, as amides as food ingredients. In Europe, the cooling agent must be labelled “artificial flavour.”

WS-12 lasts roughly six to eight times longer than WS-3 and WS-23 at about 30 minutes.

FEMA 4681 with a usage rate of 1 ppm in beverages.
Symrise recommends 1 to 5 ppm in beverages.

Intensity Scale: 5 out of 5

Solubility: 0.5 mg/L *best used in alcoholic drinks

CAS 68489-09-8

WS-27

Slight cooling mint aroma

FEMA 4557

CAS No: 51115-70-9

Solubility: 48.39 mg/L @ 25 °C

L-Menthyl Lactate (Frescolat ML / Symcool Natural)

Symrise Symcool: 25 to 35 ppm beverages

FEMA 3748 with usage at 30-120 ppm NA and 100-400 ppm alcoholic beverages

Solubility: 141 mg/L

Perfume & Flavourist Details

Menthyl Acetate

Solubility: 17 mg/L

FEMA 3748 with a usage of 5.5 ppm beverages

Coolact 10

Takasago reports that the threshold (in mouth) is 1 ppm (about 20-100% that of menthol) and that the time of cold feeling maintenance is 20-25 minutes for a 100 ppm solution ( about twice that of menthol).

FEMA 3784

Solubility: 108.1 mg/L