Lauries Miniature Whisky Bottles

email me

HOME

A-Z MALTS

FG Minis

FG Full Size

Parafilm - To seal or not to seal
(as written for inclusion in the UK Mini Bottle Club newsletter)

‘The Angels Share’

Otherwise known as evaporation. It always seems strange to find a mini with less quantity than it started with yet remains sealed. The distilleries’ term for this is ‘The Angels Share’. Many collectors seal the top of the bottles with varnish/wax or other such media that is available today. Unfortunately the value is reduced somewhat for any empty but still sealed bottle.

The ‘Angels Share’ is its common name and many mini bottle collectors are now becoming aggrieved at the angels taking their share and would like to keep the bottle level, as it was when it was first bottled.

Parafilm

Non-adhesive, the following description is the information that can be obtained from the Internet.

Lab Sealing Film, 2" x 250" Roll, Parafilm M, Each

Flexible, thermoplastic, rolled, waterproof sheet interwound with paper to prevent adhering. Semi-transparent, almost colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Supplied in 0.127mm (0.005"”) thickness. Adheres quickly and firmly to itself, covering culture tube or flask mouths and sealing petri dish edges. Excellent resistance to air, other gases, alcohol, common acids, and moderately concentrated alkalies. At 21°C (70°F), it stretches 200% and returns partially to its original size. At 82°C to 93°C (180°F to 200°F), it softens enough to make an adhesive bond between papers, cloths, leathers, etc. Supplied in dispenser cartons.

So I am going to try and explain how to use the film, which is incidentally now readily available in this country at a cost of a whopping great £4.99 plus postage for a strip of 12 foot, or a roll of 250 foot for £21 plus postage.

The former 12-foot length is not a very good way to purchase it unless you just have a couple of hundred minis to seal. Whereas the 250-foot length will seal in excess of 3000 minis, depending how careful you cut the lengths.

The 250-foot roll is encased in a neat box, which can be used as a dispenser if required, but I found it easier to remove the roll from the box to enable me to cut the right sized strips.

Cutting approximately ¾" from the end of the roll, then turn the strip round and cut through the depth of the strip to make 2 strips ¾" x 1".

Holding the strip gently peel back the film from the paper backing, (this works better if the strips are cold, rather than room temperature).

Using the left hand (sorry I’m left handed), hold the bottle and placing the edge of the film at the top of the cap, holding securely with the left hand.

Stretch the remainder of the strip around the top of bottles, continuing to stretch whilst fitting securely. Overlapping the starting piece.