The main reason why scotch whisky is expensive to buy is because of the aging process. Scotch whisky is aged at least three years, but many are aged longer — the length is always displayed on the bottle. The aging process also results in the "Angel's Share", which is the whisky lost to natural evaporation over time. A standard, newly-filled barrel contains 200 liters, but an average of around 2 percent of that evaporates every year, which significantly reduces the final amount, especially in scotch whiskies that are aged for 10-12 years. The devil's cut is another factor, which refers to the spirit absorbed by the barrel during the aging process, though how much is lost depends on the wood used. Finally, taxes and excise duties contribute to the final price that the consumer ends up paying. The current excise duty on a standard bottle of Scotch is about 72 percent in the U.K. and 25 percent in the United States.