THE ANGEL'S SHARE

     Stories, like whiskey, 
     must be allowed to mature in the cask. 
               —Sean O'Faolain

What I learned today while working
at the whisky-tasting booth with Ray—
is that whisky aged for ten years
in charred oak barrels
loses at least one-sixth of a barrel
due to evaporation
which is called the angels' share.

4/17/10
rev. 4/23/18
Las Vegas


First draft: 
What I learned today at the whisky tasting booth— 
that 1/6th of a barrel evaporating over ten years of aging—
is called the angels' share.