A number of distilleries, large and small, have stepped up to produce hand sanitizer to mitigate the shortage cause by the coronavirus pandemic. Here are just a few of them.
The Sazerac Co. on March 27 started making hand sanitizer for some of the world’s largest organizations in the healthcare, government, military, retail, distribution, airline, pharmacy and banking industries.
Heaven Hill is committing parts of operations to the production, bottling and distribution of hand sanitizer to support healthcare facilities, first responders, and high-risk populations in cooperation with local and state government. Hand sanitizer productions is taking place at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Downtown Louisville, KY; Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room in Dripping Springs, TX; and the Black Velvet Distillery in Lethbridge, Canada.
Bacardi, which on March 19 announced a shift in production to help supply ethanol required to produce hand sanitizers, on March 25 expanded its commitment to help produce more than 267,000 gallons (1.1 million liters) of hand sanitizers. Eight Bacardi-owned manufacturing sites across the U.S., Mexico, France, England, Italy and Scotland have joined the company’s efforts in Puerto Rico.
Bend, OR-based Crater Lake Spirits has converted part of its production to make ethanol-based hand sanitizer for local hospitals. The company is also giving out complimentary hand sanitizer to the community daily in its tasting rooms. Crater Lake Spirits is part of a cooperative effort coordinated by the Oregon Distillers Guild and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to pool the resources of Oregon distilleries to make hand sanitizer for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The OHA then distributes the sanitizer to hospitals and other essential emergency services.
Cutwater Spirits in San Diego is using its production resources and facility to produce an 80% alcohol hand sanitizer in accordance with FDA guidelines.
Rogue Spirits in Newport, OR, is producing and packaging hand sanitizer at its distillery in Newport, OR, to donate to local emergency response and public safety officials.
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery in Minden, NV, has converted its operation to produce 1,300 gallons of hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray per week. The distillery hopes to ramp up production to 5,000 gallons per week by the end of April. The sanitizers will be donated to local hospitals, law enforcement, and health and human services.
The Vale Fox Distillery, a new craft producer in Hudson Valley, NY, has diverted all of its resources and efforts toward producing hand sanitizer in response to the coronavirus crisis
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is producing and distributing 24 tons of hand sanitizer to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tennessee distilleries announced March 20 that they are banding together to pivot operations from whiskey-making and repurposing the alcohol for hand sanitizer and surface cleaner production in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oahu-based Ko‘Olau Distillery (makers of Old Pali Road Whiskey) said on March 19 that it is shifting production to begin supplying hand sanitizer for critical services.
Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. said on March 19 that it is using its own alcohol supply to produce hand sanitizer and provide it free of charge.
Desert Door Distillery has added making hand sanitizer produced according to World Health Organization (WHO) and FDA standards to its daily activities.
Pernod Ricard USA said on March 18 that it will produce and donate hand sanitizer to help in the national fight against the COVID-19 virus. The hand sanitizer will be produced at all of Pernod Ricard USA’s manufacturing sites, including its facility in Fort Smith, AR, Smooth Ambler Spirits (Lewisburg, WV), Rabbit Hole Distillery (Louisville, KY) and TX Whiskey Distillery (Ft. Worth, TX).