By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
Distilleries across Central New York are teaming up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to produce alcohol-based sanitizing products for distribution to emergency personnel, hospitals, law enforcement agencies and community members.
If soap and water are not readily available for hand washing, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
Old Home Distillers at 964 Campbell Road, Lebanon is one of CNY’s small operations capable of distilling to the alcohol level needed to kill the virus.
Unlike many of the region’s other distilleries, Old Home is currently offering a beverage-grade sanitation product.
At 70 percent abv (alcohol by volume), “Old Home 140” is a drinkable, corn-based spirit that is strong enough for use as a hand and surface sanitizer.
“Old Home 140 was produced in response to what the pandemic looked like 10 days ago, before any of the New York State and federal regulations surrounding alcohol production were relaxed due to the need for sanitizers,” said Aaron Carvell, who runs the distillery with his brother Adam. “We actually produced a Facebook video about washing your hands on March 13, but came to understand that the 100 proof whiskey we used as a hand wash wouldn’t have actually killed COVID-19, so we decided to make a product that would.”
According to Carvell, the drinkable sanitizer was created as a way for the distillers to help the community while remaining true to their roots in the beverage industry.
“[It allowed us to help] without changing our legal status, which was important to us at that time,” Carvell said. “We’re not a pharma outfit, nor are we a large beverage producer — our family normally produces very small batches of high-end handcrafted whiskey.”
The 140 proof liquor is available in 200 ml bottles for $5 (including NYS sales tax) in Old Home’s tasting room.
“We’re a small family business and the economic situation is scary, so we decided to sell 140 at a very low price to pay the taxes and try to make it through,” Carvell said.
Customers are currently limited to four bottles each. The limit may change as the supply diminishes.
According to a Mach 22 “Crisis Update” distributed by the distillery, the business has also been enlisted to help manufacture high-proof industrial alcohol for a joint effort by New York State distillers to ensure that the state’s medical facilities and first responders are properly supplied.
“We are temporarily suspending normal beverage production,” the distillers wrote in the announcement. “We are fortunate to have decent stocks of our core products to ensure supply and we are grateful to be positioned to help our front-line medical and emergency professionals.”
Old Home Distillers is now producing high-proof alcohol for gel hand sanitizer, in addition to its 140 proof beverage product.
“[Old Home 140 can] be used in a number of helpful ways, but the greatest need [in local communities] seems to be for gel-based hand sanitizers . . .” Carvell said. “I know of several larger operations that are manufacturing hand sanitizers and cleaning alcohol for hospitals, medical manufacturing, first responder units, etc., but we’re getting a lot of emails from really frightened families who aren’t getting much help elsewhere.”
Unlike Old Home 140, which, according to Carvell, is made to the same standards as the distillery’s other products, the high-proof is denatured alcohol, which is effective for sanitation but not healthy for drinking.
“The equipment is the same and good record-keeping is required of every distillery already,” Carvell said. “The tougher part has been getting quick access to plastic containers, which are in very short supply. Save your empties for refills down the line.”
According to Carvell, Old Home was enlisted to join the sanitizer effort by Ben Reilley, founder of Life of Reilley Distilling Co., who contacted the distillery on behalf of CenterState CEO — an independent economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the CNY region.
“Ben helped us figure a few things out in the early days of our business and has always been a community-minded guy, so saying yes to him was easy,” said Carvell. “ . . . There are a lot of great businesses and organizations out there that want to help. We just received a full ton of donated barley malt from 1886 Malt House up in Fulton. Lots of producers are collaborating on sourcing, etc., so hopefully we can flood the market, so to speak, and cut this thing down.”
Reilley has been active in the craft beverage industry in Cazenovia for over a decade — first serving as the director of operations for Owera Vineyards in 2010 and then opening his own distillery in 2013.
The entrepreneur got out of the business about two years ago after selling his “Disco Lemonade” cocktail-in-a-can brand, but he continues to consult and maintain a network within the industry.
“Friday morning, I got a call out of the blue from one of the vice presidents of CenterState CEO,” Reilley said. “He asked me if I was still distilling, and when I said no, he explained that there is an urgent need from all three hospitals in Onondaga County that are running dangerously low on hand sanitizer. [He said] ‘we think the distilleries could actually start producing hand sanitizer and release the pressure a little bit until the hospitals can get more shipments in.’”
The vice president asked Reilley to use his connections to help recruit area distillers.
“Within an hour, I actually had six distilleries that committed to or had already committed to stopping production of their own spirits and starting production of hand sanitizer,” Reilley said. “For me, it was an opportunity to not just do my part by isolating myself and my family, but also to help fight back against this virus and essentially save lives. It could be the difference between life and death. It hits home a little bit extra because my wife is a nurse at Upstate, so she is on the front line.”
According to Reilley, at least eight area distilleries are now participating in the initiative.
On March 26, Madison County Distillery said it was working to acquire the raw materials needed to make hand sanitizer.
“If we are successful in obtaining those materials, it is our intention to produce hand sanitizer and contribute toward the mitigation and defeat of the coronavirus,” Mike Basla, partner in the distillery, said.
If all goes well, Basla projects the distillery could have sanitizer product in two weeks at the earliest.
“Hopefully the hospitals can develop long-term relationships with these distilleries, so that in case we ever get into a crisis like this again, they can simply increase the orders locally and not have to worry about sending our money outside of our community for something that we desperately need here in our own town,” Reilley said.
Old Home Distillers tasting room is open every weekend for bottle sales only.
Per new NYS regulations, the distillery is offering free local delivery (within 25 miles), shipping options, and a curbside service during daylight hours throughout the week.
To learn more about Old Home Distillers, visit oldhomedistillers.com.
