Mazza Five & 20 Spirits Becomes Five & 20 Sanitizer
At least for a little while.
As posted on their new website page, “alcohol is more important than ever – but not in the way you might think! Some of the same processes and ingredients that we employ in the production of our spirits can be utilized to produce hand sanitizer.”
And, that’s what they are doing. Utilizing the ingredients, equipment, and processes they already have in place, Mazza Five & 20 is redirecting one hundred percent of its efforts to distill hand sanitizer under the strict guidelines and cooperation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—retaining 30 full-time employees in the process.
Mario Mazza, vice president and general manager, predicts the winery, brewery and distillery will be able to produce 3,000 gallons of hand sanitizer immediately, with 400 gallons or more produced weekly as long as it takes to come through the current COVID 19 crisis and sanitizer shortage. When asked for an idea about what that quantity represents, Mazza explained that in a normal week, Five & 20’s operations would use an average of two gallons of sanitizer in spray bottles to clean surfaces in the tasting room.
“We are shifting to six production days per week,” added Mazza, up from the regular four to five days. Any excess distilling capability can also be utilized to convert product from the region’s wineries that doesn’t meet quality standards for sale.
Initial efforts are focused on donating sanitizer to departments of health, non-profits, local healthcare workers, and Five and 20’s internal use. Final product will initially be sent to North East Community Nurses, Community Resources for Independence, Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Josephite Sisters of Erie, Bay City Cremations, and Our Lady of Mercy. There will also be small bottles available at Five & 20 / Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield for customers and those in the community in need, limited to one per customer.
Starting early next week, Five & 20 plans to make sanitizer available for sale to for-profit businesses considered essential. Sales will help offset staff salaries and operating costs.
And, in case you were wondering, Five & 20 whiskies and bourbon are still available for purchase online or by phone and can be shipped or picked up, curbside, at the distillery. All sales proceeds will directly support the hand sanitizer production. For more information, visit fiveand20.com/distilled-with-love or call 716-793-9463.
