WISE SPIRITS: PAYING UP FOR OLD BOOZE

摘要

By a certain age, many of us dread getting older. However, when it comes to distilled fine spirits, the consensus is often the older the better. But while older spirits are often better, sometimes younger expressions stand up taller. The price a spirit sells for is dependent upon its age. By aging a spirit up to 20 years, a distiller sacrifices quick income for a potentially better product. Additionally, each year, as spirits spend time in barrels, evaporation will occur naturally. The average "Angel's Share" loss is about 2% each year in cooler climates like Scotland, but can be much greater in warmer climates like the Caribbean. A 20-year or older whiskey, for example, can lose up to 40% of its total volume by the time it is bottled. And on top of all of that, the distiller is betting that consumers will not only appreciate the final product, but be willing to pay a premium for it to make the whole process worth it.