The terms Angels' Share and Devil's Cut refer to the portion of spirits that disappears during the aging process, either through evaporation or by being absorbed by the wood of the barrel. These factors can affect both the taste and price of the final spirit.
Angels’ Share
We start in Heaven. Angels' Share refers to the portion of spirits that evaporates during storage and maturation. It is therefore a natural part of the aging process, caused by changes in temperature and humidity. As the spirit matures in the barrel, the wood draws in air, resulting in the evaporation of alcohol into the atmosphere. In cooler climates, typically 1½-2% of the barrel's content evaporates annually, while in warmer subtropical/tropical climates, it can be up to approximately 10%. The age of, for example, a whiskey or rum can therefore affect the amount of Angels' Share, and an older spirit will have a larger amount of evaporated spirit.
The higher percentage of Angels' Share in older spirits can contribute to a higher price for the bottle. A high Angels' Share naturally results in a smaller quantity of whiskey in the container, which can lead to a higher price for the bottle. However, it is important to note that the value of a whiskey or rum is not solely determined by the amount of Angels' Share. Factors such as age, quality, and taste also play a crucial role.
Generally, longer aging can give the spirit more time to interact with the wood in the barrel, which can result in a deeper and more complex flavor. Short aging, on the other hand, can give a spirit a more intense flavor, as it has less time to interact with the wood.
Furthermore, the length of aging can be affected by the climate where the spirit is stored. High temperatures and high humidity in tropical climates can accelerate the aging process and result in a larger amount of evaporation. Therefore, spirits aged in tropical climates, such as rum, will typically mature three times faster than spirits aged in continental climates, such as whiskey. This difference in aging can result in different flavor profiles, where tropical aged rum may have a more intense and fruity taste, while continental aged rum may have a milder and more balanced taste due to lower temperatures and humidity.
Devil’s Cut
And now we go straight to Hell. Devil's Cut is a term often used in bourbon whiskey production. As bourbon whiskey is aged in new, American oak barrels, alcohol molecules can penetrate deep into the wood during aging. Devil's Cut refers to the amount of whiskey that has been absorbed by the barrel's wood during aging.
It requires special methods to extract the extra aged spirit hidden in the wood, but these extra aged drops provide a more intense flavor and aroma than regular whiskey.
Devil's Cut whiskey therefore has a stronger flavor. But it is important to note that the term "Devil's Cut" is not a protected term, and it is not only in bourbon that the term "Devil's Cut" is found - other spirit categories may also use the term in their marketing. There are also no requirements for specific methods or techniques to obtain "Devil's Cut."
Hopefully, you are now wiser about Angel's Share and Devil's Cut. The next time you enjoy a dram, you can think of the invisible contributions from both angels and devils in the form of Angels' Share and Devil's Cut.
