Two area distilleries have switched from producing whiskey to making hand sanitizer to help during the pandemic.
KyMar Farm Distillery in Charlotteville and Sauvage Distillery in Oneonta have teamed up to produce the hand sanitizer, which they’re giving to first responders and medical personnel.
KyMar’s Ken Wortz said the two distilleries received the required approval from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to make the switch.
The typical beverage they produce––whiskey, vodka and others––is 80 to 90 percent proof. The hand sanitizer is 140 proof, Mr. Wortz said, “which will do its job” of killing the virus.
“And we’re not concerned about the taste,” he added. “You cannot drink it. It’s got methanol and ethanol in it.”
Distilleries use grains to make whiskey, but anything fermentable, such as sorghum and apples, can be fermented for the hand sanitizer, Mr. Wortz said.
Sauvage is providing the labor and bottles, while KyMar is doing the distilling.
The two distilleries will continue their work until they run out of material to distill, Mr. Wortz said.
The sanitizer is not for the general public but is free for first responders, EMTs, hospitals, doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers and community and government agencies.
They can call KyMar to arrange for a pickup.
“Everybody feels pretty helpless,” Mr. Wortz said. “I can do something. It’s not much, but it’s something.”