Regina distillery brews up hand sanitizer in fight against COVID-19

Those working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic will receive 1,300 litres of hand sanitizer thanks to Regina distillery Outlaw Trail Spirits.

The product, which has been in short supply of late, will go to police officers, first responders and those who work in seniors homes or deliver meals.

“We noticed there was a disruption in the supply chain of hand sanitizer and the community has been fantastic to us. So my husband John and I decided we wanted to give back to the community and all it took was a couple of phone calls,” said Charmaine Styles, one of the distillery’s co-owners.

“That wasn’t the initial business plan but my husband was saying, ‘Well, we don’t know how to make toilet paper so we can sure as heck make hand sanitizer.’ ”

More than 1,300 litres of hand sanitizer was produced by Outlaw Trail Spirits using Saskatchewan-grown wheat during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is valued at about $10,000. (Charmaine Styles)

Styles said it was a team effort involving multiple partners from construction companies, pharmacies, other breweries and distilleries and groups. They donated time, skills, money and more to make the project happen, she said.

Some of those partners included Dan Chamberlain Cosntruction, Terry Palaschak, Pharmasave Moose Jaw, Bandits Distillery, Brianna Coffin Designs, Rebellion Brewing and the Warehouse District Business Improvement District.

As well, the alcohol they used was made from Saskatchewan-grown grain.

The batch of hand sanitizer was valued at about $10,000 and was shipped earlier this month, Styles said.

She said the distillery will continue to produce hand sanitizer.

“We still feel that there’s an ongoing demand and a need in our community so we want to continue to give back,” she said.