Somerset West-based business New Harbour Distillery has switched to making and selling hand sanitiser using their distillery equipment. PHOTO: New Harbour Distillery Facebook
A Somerset West-based company has transformed its gin and vodka distillery into a hand sanitiser production site after lockdown regulations put a temporary hold on its ability to produce liquor.
The New Harbour Distillery started making hand sanitisers due to the nationwide ban on alcohol sales, which had been in place since 27 March and which prohibited the company from selling their usual products, according to Andri Janeke, New Harbour Distillery co-founder and creative director.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on our company’s existence. We had to come to terms with not being able to produce and deliver our small-batch handcrafted spirits,” Janeke said.
From making gin to fighting germs
According to Janeke, they knew that their technology could be adapted from making alcohol to hand sanitisers. Therefore, after identifying a need for the product, New Harbour Distillery began production of their sanitisers instead.
“Our micro-distillery is perfectly positioned and capable of producing hand sanitiser,” she said.
“Clients love it,” says Andri Janeke, New Harbour Distillery co-founder and creative director, about the company’s hand sanitisers. PHOTO: Supplied/New Harbour Distillery
The alcohol used in the sanitiser is made from wine that wine farms are now unable to sell, said Nic Janeke, master distiller at New Harbour Distillery.
“Wineries are sitting with thousands of litres of oxidised wine that can’t be used, but it still has an alcohol percentage,” he said.
The distillery’s sanitisers are made with pure natural ethanol that is then infused with essential oils, making the product more gentle on the skin, said Andri Janeke.
“We have all the equipment to produce sanitisers that comply with the WHO’s [World Health Organisation] guidelines,” she said.
Sanitiser For All project
For every three litres sold, the company donates one litre of sanitiser through their Santiser For All initiative. Customers are also able to donate sanitiser directly from the online store to those in need, according to New Harbour Distillery’s website. To date, the distillery has assisted in donations to medical facilities such as Pholosong Hospital in Gauteng, community initiatives, like the Bo-Kaap Community Project, and others.
New Harbour Distillery’s hand sanitisers have been donated to facilities such as Dr R G Nel’s Practice in Hazyview, Mpumalanga (pictured), the Bo-Kaap Community Project and others, says Andri Janeke, New Harbour Distillery co-founder and creative director. PHOTO: Supplied/New Harbour Distillery
The distillery also donated sanitiser to Jacaranda Children’s Home in Pretoria, according to Karin Berriman, who works in the marketing and fundraising department at the children’s home.
“[The sanitiser] is currently being used in the homes and by our medical personnel. We are truly grateful for the support that we are receiving during this time,” she said.
New Harbour Distillery has, amongst others, donated sanitiser to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Traffic Department, says Andri Janeke, New Harbour Distillery co-founder and creative director. PHOTO: Supplied/New Harbour Distillery
Flexibility in the distillery’s approach to their product meant that the small distillery could hopefully survive this crisis, while also assisting people in need and giving back to the community, said Janeke.
Hand sanitiser will continue to be sold in the New Harbour Distillery range after the end of the national lockdown, she said.