Why Are the Angels so Greedy?
Post distillation, whisky is stored in barrels and begins aging. These barrels add incredible tasting notes and robust flavors to the whisky, but there’s a catch to aging this way. While the spirit is sitting in the barrel, some of the liquid is lost through evaporation. This loss of liquid is said to have evaporated up to heaven, thus being dubbed the “Angel’s Share”.
Amrut Greedy Angels 10 YO is a whisky that can proudly stand alongside great Scottish Single Malts. The story behind this incredible whisky proves the whisky left behind after the angels get their share is unique.
Legend of the Greedy Angels
In the very early times of aging whisky in wooden barrels, distillers were shocked to discover the barrels were losing liquid over time. Once science was brought in to explain this marvel, the legend of the angel’s share began.
In Scotland, the angel’s share averages 2% lost per year whereas, at Amrut, the angels steal 10-12% in the same amount of time. Due to this huge variance in evaporation, a 4-year-old whisky from India has the taste and characteristics of a 12-year-old whisky from Scotland. Amrut makes the statement that these whiskies mature 3 times faster than Scotland and the angel’s share is proof.
With such a high percentage going to the angels each year at Amrut this means about half of the barrel contents are lost in just 5 years. The remaining spirit is one of the most exclusive whiskies in the world. This makes Amrut Greedy Angels bottlings incredibly unique and rare.
How the Angels Get their Share
The evaporation of whisky in wooden barrels is due to simple science. According to iLaddie, time, humidity, and temperature are the main factors in whisky evaporation. Whisky barrels are porous, and this allows for whisky to evaporate from inside. With other factors added like temperature, humidity, and time, this process goes much quicker.
The science broken down states that water and ethanol evaporate at the same time during the whisky aging process. Higher air temperature and humidity combine with elements of the wood (porosity, etc.). This determines the rate at which the angels take their share.
The Greediest Angels in the World
India clearly has the greediest angels in the world. Amrut’s average loss of 10-12% per annum is 5-6 times higher than the loss at Scottish whisky distilleries. So, why such a massive difference between countries?
Bengaluru is known for its fierce sun and low humidity. With a tropical climate and 10 years of aging in oak barrels result in over 65% of the barrel contents going to the angels by the time the whisky is bottled.
The Scottish climate is often described as cool and wet and the humidity is what they attribute this evaporation to. In Bengaluru, their climate is much different and referred to as tropical. These climates explain why whiskies aged in Bengaluru give significantly more to the angels every year.
Taste the Magic of Amrut’s greedy angels
“Each edition of Greedy Angels is unique in its flavours and characteristics. [It has] a profile of a whisky aged for over 30 years in the Scottish Isles.” – said Amrut Head Distiller Ashok Chokalingham, referring to Greedy Angels, aged 10 years
The Amrut Greedy Angels Single Malt celebrates those thirsty Angels. More limited releases that are now available include the Amrut Greedy Angels 10-Year-Old Bourbon Cask and Peated Rum Cask. Unfortunately, those angels did not leave much to share, and these bottles are very limited.
The collectors’ edition of Greedy Angels is dedicated to the memory of Neel R Jagdale. Neel is Amrut’s recently departed Chairman and Managing Director. Tasting notes include phrases like “honey and tropical fruits join together to form a deadly combo!”, and “The entire experience is velvety and refreshing”.