Colorado's Unique Environment Shapes Anderson & Link 100% Malted Rye

The Angel's Share in the Mile High City:

In the world of whiskey, there's a beautifully poetic term for the small, yet significant, portion of spirit that vanishes from barrels during aging: the "angel's share." It's the ethereal tribute paid to the heavens, a mysterious evaporation that imbues the remaining liquid with character, complexity, and soul. But what if this angelic exchange wasn't so uniform across the globe? What if the very air surrounding the barrels played a starring role in shaping the final spirit?

At Anderson & Link Whiskey Company, a veteran-owned and operated distillery nestled in the heart of Colorado, we don't just witness the angel's share; we embrace it as a vital partner in crafting our signature 100% malted rye whiskey. Here in the Centennial State, the unique, often dramatic, environmental conditions amplify and uniquely influence this ancient process, profoundly impacting every drop of our liquid gold. Join us as we demystify the angel's share and explore how Colorado's distinct climate helps us forge a whiskey unlike any other.

Understanding the Angel's Share: A Dance of Wood and Air

Before we delve into Colorado's specific impact, let's understand the phenomenon itself. The angel's share is simply the portion of distilled spirit that evaporates from the barrel during its long, quiet slumber. While it represents a financial loss in volume, it is, in fact, an indispensable part of maturation.

The science behind it is a delicate dance between the spirit, the barrel, and the surrounding atmosphere. Whiskey barrels are traditionally made from porous white oak, a wood that breathes. This porosity allows for a dynamic exchange: the spirit penetrates the wood, extracting compounds like vanillin, lactones, and tannins, which contribute to flavor, color, and aroma. Simultaneously, some of the spirit evaporates through the wood.

The primary drivers of this evaporation are temperature and humidity. Higher temperatures generally lead to more rapid evaporation. Humidity, however, dictates what evaporates. In highly humid environments, more alcohol tends to evaporate than water, leading to a gradual decrease in the spirit's alcohol by volume (ABV) over time. Conversely, in drier conditions, water molecules escape more readily than alcohol, which can cause the whiskey's ABV to actually increase during aging. This subtle, yet critical, distinction is where Colorado truly shines.

Colorado's Unique Environmental Signature: A High-Altitude Influence

Colorado's environment is far from typical. Our state boasts a signature combination of elements that create an unparalleled aging environment, directly influencing the angel's share:

1. High Altitude and Lower Atmospheric Pressure: Being the "Mile High City" and home to countless peaks, much of Colorado sits at significantly higher altitudes than traditional whiskey-producing regions. This means lower atmospheric pressure. At lower pressures, molecules can escape more easily from the barrel. Imagine a bottle of soda fizzing more vigorously at altitude; a similar, albeit slower, principle applies to the evaporation within a whiskey barrel. This constant, subtle drawing-out of molecules contributes to a more active and dynamic aging process.

2. Dramatic Diurnal Temperature Swings: If you've spent any time in Colorado, you know our weather is famously unpredictable. Our days can be warm and sunny, only to give way to crisp, cool nights, especially in the more arid regions. These significant diurnal temperature variations cause the barrel staves to constantly expand and contract. This "breathing" action pumps the whiskey in and out of the pores of the wood, increasing its contact with the active compounds within the oak. This isn't just about evaporation; it's about a more aggressive and intimate interaction between the spirit and the wood, driving deeper extraction of flavors and colors.

3. Arid Climate and Low Humidity: This is perhaps the most defining characteristic of Colorado's impact on the angel's share. Most of Colorado experiences a semi-arid to arid climate with relatively low humidity levels year-round. As mentioned, in dry environments, water molecules are more eager to escape into the atmosphere than alcohol molecules. This leads to a fascinating and crucial phenomenon for our whiskey: the ABV of our 100% malted rye can actually increase during its maturation in the barrel. This stands in stark contrast to humid environments where whiskey tends to lose alcohol over time. This unique characteristic is not just a novelty; it profoundly impacts the concentration of flavors.

4. Clean Mountain Air: While less scientifically quantifiable, the sheer purity of Colorado's air and pristine mountain water cannot be overlooked. The air that circulates around our barrels and interacts with the breathing wood is clean, crisp, and free from the industrial pollutants found in some other regions. This subtle environmental purity, combined with the distinct minerality of our local water used in distillation and proofing, contributes to the overall character and cleanliness of our spirit.

The Colorado Angel's Share and Anderson & Link 100% Malted Rye: A Veteran-Crafted Difference

For Anderson & Link Whiskey Company, the angel's share in Colorado isn't just a fact of aging; it's an active, dynamic partner in crafting our 100% malted rye whiskey. Our veteran background, instilling discipline, precision, and an unwavering commitment to quality, means we don't just let nature take its course; we understand it, manage it, and optimize it to produce an exceptional spirit.

Impact on ABV and Flavor Concentration: The most immediate and tangible impact of Colorado's dry, high-altitude environment is on the final proof and flavor intensity of our whiskey. As more water than alcohol evaporates, our 100% malted rye emerges from the barrel with a naturally higher alcohol concentration. This isn't just about making a stronger whiskey; it's about intensifying and concentrating the exquisite flavors inherent in a 100% malted rye mash bill. The inherent sweetness of the malted rye, its characteristic baking spice notes, and its underlying earthy complexity are all brought into sharper focus, creating a richer, more robust, and incredibly complex whiskey. Every sip offers a concentrated burst of flavor that truly sets it apart.

Accelerated, Yet Balanced, Maturation: The constant temperature swings and the aggressive interaction between the spirit and the wood, driven by our climate, means that our whiskey can develop character and complexity at a more rapid pace than whiskeys aged in more stable, humid environments. This isn't about rushing the process; it's about optimizing the conditions to encourage a deeper, more profound maturation within a given timeframe. It means our rye can achieve a level of maturity and integration of flavors that often takes longer in other climates. This allows us to deliver a whiskey that, while perhaps younger than some aged expressions from other regions, boasts an undeniable depth and sophistication that belies its age. We see it not as accelerating, but as maximizing the potential of every barrel.

Precision & Craftsmanship – The Veteran's Touch: This is where the Anderson & Link difference truly comes to the forefront. Our military training instilled in us an unparalleled attention to detail, a meticulous approach to problem-solving, and a deep respect for process. We don't simply put barrels into a warehouse and hope for the best. We meticulously monitor the conditions within our barrel houses, understanding the subtle nuances of Colorado's climate and how it affects each barrel.

This active management includes strategic barrel placement, careful rotation, and a vigilant eye on temperature and humidity fluctuations. We understand that the angel's share is a powerful force, and our dedication ensures that this force is harnessed, not simply endured. Our precision allows us to maintain consistency in our product, even amidst the dynamic variables of our environment. The veteran's commitment to mission success translates directly into our commitment to crafting consistently exceptional whiskey, adapting our methods to ensure the Colorado angel's share works for us.

Experience the Spirit of Colorado

The angel's share is more than just evaporation; it's the very breath of a whiskey's maturation, influenced by the unique environment in which it sleeps. In Colorado, this breath is invigorating, dry, and constantly shifting, shaping our 100% malted rye into a spirit of intense character and unparalleled depth.

At Anderson & Link Whiskey Company, we are immensely proud to be veteran-owned and operated, bringing the same dedication and precision to our whiskey-making as we did to our service. When you raise a glass of Anderson & Link 100% Malted Rye, you're not just tasting a whiskey; you're experiencing the essence of Colorado, meticulously crafted and perfected by the very air of the Mile High City, and refined by the unwavering commitment of veterans. We invite you to experience the difference that the Colorado angel's share, and the Anderson & Link touch, makes.