Spirited Sanitizer

When life gives you lemons, make hand sanitizer. Normally the lemons that Salem company Fabrizia Spirits buy and process go toward the production of their limoncello liqueur, but now they’re being enlisted to help combat COVID-19.

On March 23, the family-owned business shifted from making their own all-natural limoncello liqueur and ready-to-drink cocktails to producing their own line of lemon-scented hand sanitizer as they saw an increase in demand from the COVID-19 pandemic. The hand sanitizer is made with real lemons, ethanol, glycerin and hydrogen peroxide.

Over the past few weeks, they have donated more than 7,000 bottles to over 80 hospitals, fire departments, police departments and other health care facilities, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and other hospitals across New England and New York. Given the demand, they are hoping to donate 15,000 four- and eight-ounce bottles within the month. “The demand is off the charts and we are working 24/7 to do our best to meet the need,” says Phil Mastroianni, co-owner and founder of Fabrizia Spirits. “We knew we had the ability to do something to hopefully make a difference, and we are just trying to do our part. We are truly all in this together, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to do anything we can to assist those on the front lines by providing and delivering an essential item in this time of adversity,” he adds.

New Hampshire’s most rural farm-to-bottle distillery, Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile, has also pivoted to making scratch-made hand sanitizer from their neutral grain spirits to fulfill dire need and support the community. With their pun-filled take on the state’s motto “Live Clean or Die,” the distillery will donate sanitizer to the team at the Tamworth Community Nurse’s Association, and $1 for every bottle of sanitizer sold will benefit the association as well. White Mountain Hand Sanitizer is available to purchase in 16-ounce glass pump containers or 750-millileter bottles online. Given the last batch sold out in two minutes, the talented distilling team has been working around the clock to restock and keep up with growing demand. It’s only sold online, and will only be available as production allows. More is expected soon, so keep an eye on the website.

To learn more about Fabrizia Spirits and their incredible efforts, visit the website here. To learn more about Tamworth Distilling and purchase your own bottle of hand sanitizer, visit the website here.

If in need, email info@fabriziaspirits.com to request bottles of hand sanitizer.

Do you know of a local cause that we should feature? Send your suggestions to Assistant Editor Emily Heidt at eheidt@nhmagazine.com.