Cling Film to Stop Those Robbing Angels
As most whisky aficionados know at least two per cent of each cask evaporates through the oak after the distilling process. This is known as ‘the angels share’.
If you envisage the financial amount this equates to across thousands of barrels and over the years you can see why drink producers would look at limiting the process. Giants Diageo- who produce such brands as Lagavuliin and Talisker - have conducted experiments using plastic wrap to cover each barrel. This simple process could stop the evaporation.
The cling film test have “astounded” scientists at the distilleries. Crucially it is not thought to affect the taste of the whisky but research continues but there are critics:
“That lost Angel’s Share allows a particular atmosphere to develop in the warehouse and facilitates a molecular exchange between the air and the spirit. Without this subtle and magical interaction it is doubtful if the whisky would be able to attain its true flavoursome potential.”
Photo from foxypar4’s flickr photostream used under creative commons license
