Great Gido's Home Brew is now making hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

From booze to sanitizer

Local distiller switches to manufacturing hand sanitizer during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 20, 2020 | 5:01 PM

A local distillery has shifted gears from spirits to sanitizer.

Great Gido’s Home Brew, southwest of Wakaw, is now making hand sanitizer due to the growing COVID-19-based demand.

“When this [pandemic] happened I just kind of, whatever alcohol I had in stock, I re-distilled like three times to get it to the 96 per cent, to the hand sanitizer,” owner Mark Holinaty told northeastNOW.

There was one exception.

“Except my absinthe, just because I couldn’t bring myself to do that,” Holinaty said with a laugh.

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Holinaty said he had enough hand sanitizer that he could give it away to areas near his farm, in communities like Wakaw, Vonda, and Aberdeen. He said he tried to get some fruit to make some alcohol, but couldn’t find any, so he has focused on making hand sanitizer full-time for the past couple of weeks.

The hand sanitizer is available for purchase by messaging Great Gido’s Home Brew Facebook page, or by email.

“I try to sell it to whoever I can, I tried to go as low as I can, and offer free delivery at least and that way people don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for it,” Holinaty said.

Because the hand sanitizer is 80 per cent alcohol, Holinaty can’t send orders by mail. However, he does have proper licensing to be able to deliver the product to stores, businesses, or manufacturing companies.

“I’ll deliver anywhere in Saskatchewan for free for a five case order,” Holinaty said. He added delivery is free in the Saskatoon region with the purchase of three or more bottles.

“I’m not trying to be a hero or anything. Just trying to do my part,” Holinaty said.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974