Why is the Angel’s Share So Much Greater in India?
If you’re a whisky lover, you’ve likely heard the term “the angel’s share”. The Angels Share refers to the amount of whisky that evaporates during the maturation process of the spirit in wooden barrels. As whisky is aging in casks, a portion of the spirit evaporates up to the heavens and is “claimed by the angel’s”. This makes the barrels less full than when the process initially started and is a form of natural “tax” every whisky producer must pay.
What exactly is the Angel’s Share?
After distillation, whisky is transferred to barrels for the aging process as the final step before bottling. As the spirit sits in the casks, simple science takes its course and evaporation of the liquid begins occurring. While this happens to every whisky in a cask, there are a number of key factors that change the rate of evaporation (AKA the angel’s share).
Arguably the biggest variables are the size of the barrel, location and its climate. Warm, humid climates like Kentucky in the USA and most of India tend to mature whiskies at a much quicker rate whereas cooler climates like Scotland and Ireland evaporate at a slower pace. One thing to note about the climate is that it also affects which part of the spirit evaporates first. According to Dekanta, more humid climates will cause the alcohol in whiskies to vanish faster than the water. Likewise, whisky matured near the sea/ocean tends to have the alcohol in the barrel evaporate first. Whereas, barrels in a drier climate tend to lose water faster, causing the alcohol strength to rise and the contents to reduce.
Another variable that plays a major role in the rate of evaporation is the cask. Whisky distillers know that selecting the right cask for the aging process is vital. Wooden barrels add incredible depth and flavor profiles to the spirit and can turn a good whisky into an exceptional one. Another interesting fact about these barrels is that they can also affect the rate of evaporation due to their size. Smaller casks tend to see a quicker rate of evaporation which can speed up the maturation phase. A good rule of thumb is “the closer the liquid is to the wood, the faster the contents will mature.”
Finally, time plays a key role in the rate of evaporation on whisky. Younger whiskies tend to see more evaporation during the early years of the maturation process and over time, the rates slow down. Because there are many factors that go into this process, the rate of evaporation (and overall angel’s share) is different across the globe.
How the Angel’s Share changes from country to country
While evaporation occurs with every cask during whisky production, there are a few climates where this happens at a much quicker pace. You’ll often see the generic statistic that 2-5 percent of whisky is given to the angels every year, but this can vary dramatically depending on where the whisky is aged. According to the USA Spirits Ratings, some of the top whisky producing countries are the USA, India, Japan, Scotland and Ireland.
Since Scotland and Ireland consistently have cool, steady climates, the angel’s share averages about 2-3% every year. Japanese angels average a share of 2-5% and in the United States, specifically the hot state of Kentucky, angel’s share is around 5%. The outlier among the major whisky producing nations are, parts of the USA, Taiwan and India where their variable climate (heat and humidity) amounts to a whopping 10-15% evaporation rate, making them the country that has the greediest angels. Because these rates vary so drastically, it’s clear that maturity and age are not one in the same when it comes to whisky production around the world.
Spirit spotlight: Amrut Greedy Angels
Amrut’s Greedy Angels whisky is one of the most exclusive spirits ever produced. Because the angel’s share in Bangalore, India is exceedingly high and this spirit is aged for 10 years, the whisky that is left is incredibly valuable and unique. India’s rate of evaporation is 3-4 times that of Scotland , which makes the flavor profile more complex and mature than whiskies that age for the same length of time from other countries.
It appears the angels love this single malt whisky produced by Amrut and therefore leave very little for the rest of us to enjoy. If you’re lucky enough to try Amrut’s Greedy Angels whisky, you may just discover why their angels love it so much. With only 900 bottles worldwide and 300 in the USA, this limited edition is ideal for the most prestigious whisky collections. Click here to learn more about Amrut Greedy Angels Indian Single Malt Whisky 10 YO Chairman’s Reserve – Bourbon Cask and make sure to sign up for our newsletter so you never miss an update on the exceptional spirits we import from Amrut to the United States.