angel's share: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Specialised, Technical (mainly spirits industry), Figurative/Literary
Quick answer
What does “angel's share” mean?
The portion of alcoholic spirits (particularly whisky or cognac) that evaporates during the ageing process in wooden casks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The portion of alcoholic spirits (particularly whisky or cognac) that evaporates during the ageing process in wooden casks.
A term for any valuable or desirable quantity that is unavoidably lost to evaporation, disappearance, or natural wastage over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in primary meaning and usage, associated with both Scotch whisky and American bourbon industries.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with Scotch whisky heritage and tradition. US: Associated with bourbon and craft distilling; can feel slightly borrowed/romantic.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to the prominence of Scotch whisky discourse, but common in US spirits writing.
Grammar
How to Use “angel's share” in a Sentence
The angel's share of [SPIRIT] is...They lose an angel's share of...An angel's share evaporates from...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “angel's share” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The angel's-share loss is factored into the pricing.
- An angel's-share calculation
American English
- The angel's-share percentage is higher in Kentucky.
- Angel's-share evaporation
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the spirits industry to account for inventory loss and calculate final yield.
Academic
May appear in papers on food science, chemistry of ageing, or economic history of distilling.
Everyday
Rare in everyday speech unless discussing spirits knowledgeably or using it metaphorically.
Technical
Standard term in oenology and distilling for evaporation during barrel ageing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “angel's share”
- Using it for intentional sharing ("He gave an angel's share to his brother").
- Misspelling as "angels' share" (plural possessive).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It originated with brandy/cognac and is used for any spirit aged in wooden casks, including rum, sherry, and some wines.
Yes. It can describe any precious resource that slowly diminishes over time without tangible benefit, e.g., 'The angel's share of my youth was spent waiting.'
It's a poetic personification suggesting the evaporated spirit is a tribute or offering taken by angels, making an economic loss seem benevolent or destined.
Not a standard term. However, in informal industry talk, it might humorously refer to taxes or other non-evaporation losses taken by authorities.
The portion of alcoholic spirits (particularly whisky or cognac) that evaporates during the ageing process in wooden casks.
Angel's share is usually specialised, technical (mainly spirits industry), figurative/literary in register.
Angel's share: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeɪn.dʒəlz ʃɛə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈeɪn.dʒəlz ʃɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pay the angel's share”
- “a generous angel's share”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine angels taking a small, invisible sip from every barrel as their 'share' of the precious spirit.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION/INVESTMENT IS A SACRIFICE TO THE DIVINE; NATURAL LOSS IS A GIFT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'angel's share' LEAST likely to be used?