2 Brooklyn distilleries keep doors open during pandemic by making hand sanitizer

Two more distilleries in Brooklyn have found a special way to help keep their community safe and their doors open during the pandemic.

News 12 Staff

Apr 20, 2020, 12:15 PM

Updated 1,654 days ago

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Two more distilleries in Brooklyn have found a special way to help keep their community safe and their doors open during the pandemic.
Barrow's Intense and Standard Wormwood Distillery in Brooklyn quickly pivoted from distilling spirits to making hand sanitizer following the mass shortage across the country due to the coronavirus.
"It's what's needed and it's basically all we can do right now. We have the people, we have the bottling lines, we have the equipment, so we might as well jump on it,” says Josh Morton, owner/founder of Barrow's Intense.
Standard Wormwood Distillery also created a high-proof aromatic spirit that can be used as a hand sanitizer and in a cocktail, with a portion of the proceeds going to local bars and bartenders.

"If we can keep a few people out of the hospital because we're doing sanitizer, I mean it's worth it,” says Sasha Selimotic, co-founder of Standard Wormwood Distillery.

Morton also says he's donating sanitizer to local bars, restaurants and liquor stores that are still open in the area.
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"We are using some of the profits from that to fund, donating them to the folks at Industry City who are making PPE,” says Morton.
They say they never imagined they'd be in this unique situation, but feel lucky they can help out and they're working together.

"We're sharing information, we're sharing equipment or sharing resources, just to sort of help each other out in any way we can,” says Morton.
Morton says he's hoping to set up a partnership for people to donate hand sanitizer to the police and others through their site.