Paying it Forward: Angel's Share #132
Visited Scotland many times in my career. Found Scots welcoming as I I learned about the Angel's Share. Share your own Angel's share and change a life.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday September 14, 2025
‘Welcome to Scotland! What are you here for?’ said the Edinburgh immigration agent on one of my many one-week international technology trips.
Except after a week of flying from the US to Israel and then Europe and visiting six countries in six days, I heard, ‘El-cum two ‘otlund -- hut ewe ‘ere four?’
I paused and thought, trying to understand, and then asked again. The agent said the same thing but louder this time.
Again, I heard the same. I turned up my hearing aid and asked a third time. Then I understood the question.
Answering ‘Business,’ I was welcomed to Scotland, known for its namesake liquor.
In the craft of making scotch, there are six steps: malting the barley, mashing the malt, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and the final stage, bottling.
Like many tasks in life, the outside influences are many, challenging a master continually to produce the best.
My favorite step is the maturation where the distillate is placed in oak barrels. Barrells are reused and previously held bourbon, sherry or wine. The whiskey matures over several years, gaining its characteristic flavors and color from the wooden cask.
Realize that 2-4% of the content evaporates annually from the casks during the aging process. Do the math; an aged cask may only be half full when bottled to improve the flavor over time.
In Scotland, one can purchase a cask, kept at the distillery, and call for bottling a bit from time to time for consumption while leaving the rest to further age.
A 15-year-old scotch, may have lost 30-60% of its initial volume while a 50-year-old scotch may lose up to 75% or more as the ‘angel’s share’ evaporates.
Consider your aging. Your angel’s share is the holistic combination of your life experiences. Which pieces are missing that can still be added while allowing you to impact another’s life for the better?
Giving blood is a way for you to ‘bottle’ your unique spirit and save lives. Call and make an appointment today to donate. Your blood will be on the way to those in need in just a few days.
Godspeed, give the angel’s share and share your lifeblood with another.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola and other top tech companies.