The obstacle is the way… When local distilleries found themselves unable to showcase their products to visitors, they found other ways to put their skills, expertise and equipment to good use.
My son-in-law is a huge fan of Empress 1908 Gin. Victoria Distillers’ contribution to the world of gin is the only option good enough to use in his fancy G&Ts.
Various local distilleries, unable to offer tours and tastings during the COVID-19 lockdown have put their skills and equipment to good use to support local frontline healthcare workers.
Bring on the Hand Sanitizer
Victoria Distillers, for example, partnered with Nezza Naturals, a Vancouver Island-based company that makes organic, eco-friendly, all-natural skincare products to produce and distribute hand sanitizer for those working in essential services in Greater Victoria. The businesses are providing sanitizer free of charge for frontline workers - if you know someone who could make use of this offer, ask them to email sanitizer@empressgin.com. Shelter Point Distillery in Oyster River is also making large batches of hand sanitizer for first responders and has shipped thousands of litres of the product to clinics, fire departments and the VGH.
Why Stop at Hand Sanitizer?
Phillips Brewing has also been making hand sanitizer, but they’ve also started making face shields using their laser cutter and 3-D printer. As the company’s website says, their path along the beer flavour arc “…is guided by unbridled creativity and unwavering attention to quality.” If creativity is what allows us to see any given situation in a new light, thank goodness this company had the creative capacity to see how they could use their resources and ingenuity to make a difference during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
When all is said and done, let’s do our bit and remember the businesses that stepped up and chipped in to find innovative ways to support our frontline workers.
We are all in this together!