Hey there, Cola. 👋 With more and more people venturing back out into the community, how are you keeping your fingers germ free? We all had a refreshing lesson about washing our hands earlier this year but what if soap and water just aren't available?

Hand sanitizer has been one of the leading hot products since COVID-19 began and local distilleries are lending a hand to help meet the demand to keep everyone healthy + happy. Southern Essence Distilling in Cayce has switched its business operations from making alcohol to making hand sanitizer and it isn't the only one. The team of three are following the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau guidelines + using the World Health Organization’s Formula One.

The distilling process is pretty similar but the distillery has to use a higher grade alcohol than it would if you were drinking it. The secret ingredient is blending the alcohol with glycerol + hydrogen peroxide to make the hand sanitizer. On the other hand their sanitizer is a liquid not a gel.

When things were getting out of hand at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Southern Essence Distilling stepped up and donated over 400 bottles to first responders. Now they have been asked by the government to continue making the hand sanitizer until December 30.

“Businesses that are reopening or for the individuals returning to work that can’t find hand sanitizer, we have started making and selling to the public,” said John Sharpe, owner of Southern Essence Distillery. “Our distillery is still open occasionally selling our fine spirits but our focus now is to get a needed resource out to the public.”

If you need to get your hands on some hand disinfectant we know where you can find some. Southern Essence Distillery is selling the hand sanitizer in half-gallon jugs for $25. You can contact John and his friends through Facebook or phone 803-796-6225 + they are offering curbside pickup.

Stay healthy and keep your hands clean, Cola. 🤚