Alcohol molecules bind to the polymer fragments and recombine to create 500-odd new flavor compounds.
2019, 'The Madcap Chemists of Booze', Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/mad-scientists-booze-recreating-spirits-going-back-era-paul-revere-180971630/
Those that succeed then recombine their ideas with those of others to produce new ideas.