Highwood Distillery Making Sanitizer Free For First Responders

HIGHWOOD, IL — Workers at a local distillery aren't sitting back after being told to close during the new coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they're turning their alcohol into hand sanitizer free of charge for local first responders.

Eric Falberg, owner of 28 Mile Vodka in Highwood, said they're following the World Health Organization's recipe for "handrub formulations."

"We are ramping up our production to go 24/7," Falberg told Patch. "Our goal is 700, 16-ounce bottles an hour. We can produce a lot."

With about 700 gallons of alcohol — gin and vodka — on hand, Falberg said they are going into "wartime mode."

"As soon as we are up and running full speed, we will supply all the police and firefighters we can for free," Falberg said, adding that they've already handed out what they've made.

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The distillery's staff of more than a dozen people will be the production team for the sanitizer. They are still being paid, according to Falberg, a Highwood alderman, vice president of a propane company and the president of the local tourism nonprofit Celebrate Highwood.

Highwood's 28 Mile distillery opened its doors last August at 454 Sheridan Road. It joins several other Illinois distilleries — including Blaum Brothers in Galena, Koval in Chicago, Whiskey Acres in DeKalb and more — that have converted operations from producing beverage to producing hand sanitizer amid skyrocketing demand sparked by the spread of the new coronavirus.

Find more about the recommendations being used by 28 Mile Vodka: Guide to Local Production: WHO-recommended Handrub Formulations and more details and updates from 28milevodka.com.

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• Coronavirus In Illinois: March 23 Update As Death Toll Hits 9