Angel's Share

Angel's Share, in Danish often referred to as engleandelen, denotes the portion of the whiskey that evaporates from wooden casks during maturation. The annual evaporation loss typically lies between about 1 and 4 percent of the existing stock and depends on climate, cask type, and the warehouse's operation.

Mechanism Evaporation occurs primarily through the wood's pores and through the cask's closures and seams, as well as due to temperature and airflow variations in the storage building. Warm and dry conditions increase evaporation, while cool and more humid conditions generally slow the rate.

Factors affecting - Climate and temperature: Higher average temperatures and greater fluctuations increase evaporation. - Cask type and age: New, charred oak casks (especially American white oak) yield different exchanges of liquids and aromas than older casks; the type of oak affects how easily liquids move out and are absorbed. - Cask size and the surface-to-volume ratio: Smaller casks have a larger surface area relative to their volume, which normally increases evaporation. - Warehouse conditions: ventilation, air flow, and conditioning of the warehouse affect the loss. - Movements and handling: Frequent rearrangement and relocation of casks can affect evaporation.

Significance The Angel's Share has a major impact on the warehouse's volume and economics as well as on its aging profile. The evaporation loss reduces the total stock and contributes to the ongoing development of the flavor profiles during storage.

Measurement and recording Producers track the evaporation loss as part of the warehouse accounting through periodic measurements of the volume and weight of the stored spirit and by recording withdrawals and additions. Evaporation varies from year to year and from warehouse to warehouse.

Etymology The term Angel's Share stems from the belief that a portion of the whiskey evaporates through the cask and ascends to heaven; in Danish technical terminology the concept is often referred to as engleandelen.