SYDNEY – At a time when Australia’s boutique small batch distillers would be busy producing gin or vodka – and opening their premises to tastings – some have switched to the production of hand sanitiser.
The much sought-after liquid disinfectant is being made from high-grade alcohol that would normally be mixed with juniper berries to produce gin.
North Sydney's Manly Spirits Co makes gin, vodka, whisky and liqueurs in normal times. Its switch to making hand sanitiser was inspired by its own staff's troubles buying the product.
Manly Spirits Co is making 50ml bottles of hand sanitiser available for free with every Manly Spirits Co bottle of spirits purchased.
Another boutique producer, Archie Rose, has released 4,500 500ml bottles of hand sanitiser, with the product selling out almost immediately.
The distillery has used a product formulation based on the World Health Organisation’s guidelines while utilising ingredients including grapefruit, cassia, cardamom and thyme botanical distillates from the brand’s gin production.
The distillery has sold out the first two batches of 500ml hand sanitiser which sell for A$20 each.
In Western Australia, distiller Illegal Tender Rum has halted its usual operation to produce alcohol to make hand sanitiser for hospitals and the public.
Distillers Codie Palmer and Hayley Wells expect to produce about 4,000 litres of sanitiser a week.