Southern Distilling Company in Statesville, North Carolina like most distilleries across the country has been forced to close down its tours and tasting room experience because of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The state-of-the-art distillery which is the largest in the state and surrounding area has shifted its production from whiskey and bourbon to hand sanitizer to meet the needs of the local community.
With the temporary closing of local restaurants and bars, including its own tasting room, the distillery’s manufacturing shift has also created new jobs for displaced service industry workers.
Peter Barger Co-Founder of the distillery and President of the Distillers Association of North Carolina says they are now making significant quantities of hand sanitizer. It’s available for free to local first responders and health care facilities to address the current product shortage precipitated by the current pandemic.
The initial manufacturing run consists of hand sanitizer in 32 oz. HDPE bottles containing 80% alcohol and manufactured to the approved World Health Organization (WHO) hand sanitizer formula. In addition to what is being offered to the local community the distillery is accepting online orders by the case or in larger sizes including 55 gallon drums and 270 gallon IBC totes.
“We hope that our efforts and those of other distilleries across the country to be part of the solution to this hand sanitizer shortage will help meet the current needs of our local communities and beyond,” stated Barger. “We are all in this fight together.”
Southern Distilling Company is co-owned by husband and wife duo Pete and Vienna Barger. When not producing hand sanitizer they are known for their award-winning Southern Star Straight Bourbon Whiskeys, Rye Whiskeys, and Double Shot Coffee Bourbon Cream Liqueur product lines. The company also offers contract distilling, warehousing, and co-packaging services to the trade.
Learn more about Southern Distilling Company.
View all North Carolina Distilleries.
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