Poetic License distillery in Sunderland produces alcohol hand gels to help during Covid-19 crisis

Poetic License, based at the Roker Hotel, is more well known for its award-winning gin.

But owner Nicola Foster-Hird came up with the idea of using the high-alcohol content spirit it produces to make handrub formulations, which are highly sought-after during the pandemic.

The distillery has followed the World Health Organisation-recommended handrub formulation, and will be producing 2000 100ml bottles, with a number of bottles donated to local causes in Sunderland and the surrounding area.

Operations director Jonathan Graham, said: “We already have the high-content alcohol and you only need three other ingredients to make the WHO-recommended gels.

“Our aim is to help hospitals and key workers. We are certainly not profiteering from this, we will just cover costs.

“We’ll be making 2,000 at first, but if the need is there we’ll do more.”

It comes as Sunderland Echo is running our #SupportLocal campaign aimed at promoting the amazing things our local businesses are doing at this difficult time.

While the Roker Hotel has had to close its doors in line with Government restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19, the distillery has still been able to operate with safety measures and limited staff in place to meet its orders for supermarkets.

The distillery, which the hotel’s bar is named after, produces around 50,000 bottles of gin a year, in a range of flavours. It’s proved to be one of the city’s most successful exports and is sold in major supermarkets around the country, as well as in high-end retailers such as Harvey Nichols.

As well as the hand gels being donated, there will be a limited number of bottles available on the distillery’s online shop. These will be dispatched free with every 70cl bottle of gin or vodka purchased.

Alternatively, they have bottles for £3 each (max four per customer), available only for local collection. Please ensure you choose local pickup if ordering this option at www.poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk

They also have the option of a four pack of handrub available for delivery, priced at £12 (+£6.95 shipping, max one per customer).

For inquiries visit: [email protected].

It comes after the Echo also reported how WL Distillery made more than 100 50-millilitre bottles of sanitiser, with owner Scott Wilson-Laing, from Sunderland, saying it was the firm’s way of “helping the community in these difficult times”.

Do you know of any of our local businesses which are going above and beyond to help support their communities as we are all facing restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak.

If you do, then email Sunderland Echo at [email protected] or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter. We want to hear from you.

Other delivery / takeout options

We’ve rounded up some of the ways businesses in Sunderland and Washington have diversified to offer more delivery and takeout options, which you can read here.

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