Component Identification and Integrated Quality Evaluation of Zhuyeqing Liquor by UHPLC–Q‐TOF–MS and UHPLC–PDA

ABSTRACT Zhuyeqing liquor (ZYQL), a traditional Chinese herbal‐infused spirit, possesses a complex chemical profile due to the incorporation of various botanicals, distinguishing it from conventional distilled liquors. The inherent complexity and potential bioactive constituents of ZYQL underscore the critical need for robust analytical methods to ensure quality and consistency, yet comprehensive chemical characterization is still lacking. In this work, we present an integrated analytical strategy that synergistically combines ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–Q‐TOF–MS) and photodiode array detection (UHPLC–PDA). This strategy was systematically applied for the in‐depth chemical profiling, fingerprinting, and multicomponent quantification of ZYQL. Through high‐resolution MS and UV data, 80 chemical constituents were unambiguously or tentatively identified. Furthermore, a characteristic chromatographic fingerprint was established, and a validated quantification method was developed for seven key marker compounds that showed significant variation across samples, demonstrating their utility as practical quality indicators. The developed integrated strategy provides a systematic and practical framework for the comprehensive quality assessment of ZYQL. It offers scientifically grounded insights that are crucial for its standardization, safety evaluation, and industrial production control. This study not only advances the quality control of herbal liquors but also establishes a transferable analytical paradigm for the investigation of other complex functional beverage matrices.