The Angels' Share: A Mysterious Phenomenon in Spirit Production

Let’s uncork the secret behind the evaporation of your favourite spirits…

Ah, the “Angels' Share” – sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale, right? But in reality, this phenomenon is one of the most intriguing aspects of spirit production. It's that bit of precious liquid that seems to disappear during the ageing process, and while we can’t blame the angels for their ‘share,’ there’s a lot more going on than just a magical disappearance.

What Exactly is the Angels’ Share?

Creating your favourite spirits like whisky, rum, or cognac is a precise art. After distillers carefully select the finest raw ingredients, it’s time to ferment, distill, and age the liquid in wooden casks. This ageing process is where the “Angels' Share” comes into play.

While the spirit rests in its barrel, something extraordinary happens: the cask breathes. Yes, just like a wooden door might expand or contract with the changing seasons, so does the barrel. As it does, a little bit of the liquid inside evaporates into the air. And that, my friends, is the “Angels' Share” – the portion of the spirit that, quite literally, vanishes into the atmosphere.

A Mystery That Varies

Now, how much of that precious spirit actually evaporates? Well, that’s where things get a little mysterious. It varies depending on a few factors, such as how long the spirit is aged and where it’s being produced. Distilleries just a few miles apart can experience different levels of evaporation due to microclimates.

In Scotland, where the climate is cooler, whisky may lose around 2-3% of its volume per year due to evaporation. However, in places like Texas, where it’s much warmer, losses can be as high as 5% annually. That’s quite a difference, and no one wants to see their profits evaporate into thin air. So how do distillers account for this?

How Distillers Plan for the Angels' Share

Distillers are no strangers to the delicate balance of aging and evaporation. They plan ahead, factoring in the “Angels' Share” when predicting their production levels. For instance, if a distillery expects to produce 1,000 cases of whisky over five years, and the evaporation rate is 5% per year, they’ll have to produce an additional 25% more than the target to make up for the loss.

Planning is key – and that’s where the precision of a skilled distiller comes into play.

A Little History on the Angels’ Share

The term "Angels' Share" dates back to the 18th century, and there’s a charming tale that goes along with it. Legend has it that a priest from Segonzac, wanting to gift Cognac to the bishop of Angoulême, discovered that a portion of the precious liquid had mysteriously disappeared from a perfectly sealed barrel. Bewildered, he famously claimed that the angels had taken their share. And just like that, a delightful expression was born!

What About Wine?

While the term is mostly associated with spirits, wine also experiences evaporation during barrel aging. However, in the world of wine, this is more commonly referred to as "evaporative loss" rather than the Angels' Share. So, while we may not have angels sneaking off with our wine, the aging process still leads to a bit of mystery in the cellar.

The Angels' Share isn’t just a whimsical story – it’s a real phenomenon that makes every bottle of whisky, rum, or brandy even more special. The evaporation of a small amount of liquid during the aging process adds to the character and complexity of the final product. And whether you’re enjoying a glass of your favorite spirit or learning the secrets of how it’s made, just know that the angels are out there – enjoying their own share of the good stuff.