Diageo have found a way to keep the Angels at bay, according to the Daily Record, a  Glasgow newspaper.

The company has been experimenting for some time, we have been aware, with wrapping barrels in cling film in an attempt to stop the proverbial angels' share - the evaporation of spirit through the oak casks, lost into the atmosphere.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs allow for a 2% loss per annum as part of the maturing process. A cask of 10 year old whisky may have lost around 10 degrees in strength and 20% in volume from when it was filled.

It is reported that the cling film results have "astounded" scientists at the distilleries, though apparently it is not thought to affect the taste of the whisky. Well that's good then.

A Diageo spokesman said: "At this stage, the technologies under trial are not proven and we are continuing our research."

The whole point of using oak casks is because they 'breathe'. It would seem that if the  cask cannot 'breathe', the spirit strength will remain high, the micro-oxidation process will be minimized, the flavour compound changes reduced, the maturation retarded, the oak extraction compromised, the atmosphere effect will be inconsequential, the storage location irrelevant. The cask seems totally superfluous.

If it wasn't for the whisky regulations actually stipulating the use of oak casks, what would be next? Plastic drums and oak essence...