Whisky Words: Angel's Share

The "angel's share" refers to the portion of whisky that naturally evaporates from a cask during maturation. As whisky ages in oak barrels, small amounts of liquid escape through the porous wood into the air. This process is inevitable and, in many ways, essential to the whisky's development.

On average, in Scotland, a distillery loses about 2% of its volume per year to evaporation, although the exact amount can vary depending on the climate, cask type, warehouse conditions, and location.

The term itself is poetic: a romantic glimpse to the idea that angels take their fair share of caring for the whisky as it ages. But it also reminds us of the precious nature of whisky and the patience required to make it.

AI-generated illustration of Angels' Share.

✨ Did you know...?

In some humid climates, the angel's share contains more alcohol than water, which means the alcohol content decreases over time.

Bottom line: The portion of whisky that evaporates from the cask during aging. On average, about 2% per year is lost to the air—often described poetically as “the angels taking their share.”