TL;DR

Devil's Cask, founded by ex-roofers, created Aegis Coating for whisky barrels. This silicone-like coating reduces liquid loss from evaporation (the 'angel's share') by 46% without affecting flavor, potentially saving the industry millions. Tequila producers are also interested.

An Unlikely Group of Ex-Roofers Is on a Mission to Save the Whisky Industry Millions of Dollars By Conserving the ‘Angel’s Share’

Devil’s Cask, a team of former roofers, has developed a new technology that could potentially save the whisky industry millions of dollars. Their invention is aimed at conserving the “angel’s share” of whisky, which refers to the amount of aging spirit lost to evaporation during the maturation process.

The longer whisky ages, the more the barrel slowly empties, leading to a great deal of evaporated whisky that cannot be bottled and sold. Devil’s Cask’s solution to this problem is a patent-pending technology called Aegis Coating. This technology involves coating the outside of whisky barrels with a silicone-like substance that reduces the angel’s share and minimizes leaks, according to the Devil’s Cask website.

A test study conducted by Devil’s Cask showed that barrels using Aegis Coating technology lost 46% less liquid than those that were uncoated. The coating reduces ethanol and water evaporation from the cask without significantly affecting the flavor profile of the maturing spirit. Additionally, the coating allows oxygen to permeate the wooden cask, which is essential for the aging process.

Jeremy Grunewald, founder and CEO of Devil’s Cask, came up with the idea while touring the Jameson distillery in Ireland. During the tour, a guide mentioned that Jameson loses about 26,000 bottles worth of whisky every day to evaporation. This information gave Grunewald the inspiration to use his experience in the roofing industry to find a solution to this problem.

Devil’s Cask has about 75 coated barrels of whisky aging, with plans to increase that number to hundreds or thousands. Their technology has the potential to be a game-changer for the whisky industry, as it will allow distilleries to increase their yields and profits. It has also sparked interest in the tequila industry, which ages reposado and añejo tequilas in barrels.

In conclusion, Devil’s Cask has come up with an ingenious solution to a problem that has plagued the whisky industry for decades. With their Aegis Coating technology, they may have just saved the industry millions of dollars while also opening up new opportunities for other industries.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the 'angel's share' in whisky?

The 'angel's share' refers to the portion of whisky that evaporates through the wooden barrel during the aging process, leading to significant product loss for distilleries.How does the Aegis Coating technology work?

Aegis Coating is a patent-pending silicone-like substance applied to the outside of barrels. It reduces ethanol and water evaporation by 46% while still allowing essential oxygen permeation for proper aging.Who invented this technology to save the angel's share?

The technology was invented by Devil's Cask, a company founded by Jeremy Grunewald and a team of former roofers who applied their sealing expertise to whisky barrels.How much whisky can this technology save?

A test showed coated barrels lost 46% less liquid. For context, the Jameson distillery reportedly loses about 26,000 bottles worth of whisky to evaporation daily.Is this technology only useful for whisky?

While developed for whisky, the coating has also sparked interest in the tequila industry for aging reposado and añejo tequilas in barrels.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the 'angel's share' in whisky?

The portion of whisky that evaporates through the wooden barrel during aging, causing significant product loss for distilleries.How does Aegis Coating technology work?

It's a silicone-like coating applied to barrel exteriors. It reduces ethanol and water evaporation by 46% while still allowing oxygen permeation for proper aging.Who invented this technology?

Devil's Cask, a company founded by Jeremy Grunewald and a team of former roofers who applied their sealing expertise to whisky barrels.How much whisky can this technology save?

Test barrels lost 46% less liquid. For example, Jameson reportedly loses about 26,000 bottles worth of whisky to evaporation daily.Is this technology only for whisky?

While developed for whisky, it has sparked interest in the tequila industry for aging reposado and añejo tequilas in barrels.