Brighton distillery switches from vegan gin to hand sanitiser

The company, part of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub in Brighton, has been delivering hand sanitiser directly to NHS teams, care home staff and other frontline workers including FareShare Sussex who distribute food parcels to vulnerable and isolated people.

Founder Kathy Caton said: “As soon as I found out that distilleries could play their part in the fight against Covid-19 and help tackle shortages, we made the decision to partner with A.S Apothecary and produce hand sanitiser.

“We also know how many people want to help and support frontline efforts. Through our not-for-profit 'spray it forward' initiative, every bottle purchased through the website enables us to make and donate two to organisations that need it most. This has included everyone from foodbanks to hospitals, projects working with isolated and vulnerable people to care homes and delivery drivers.”

NatWest has supported Brighton Gin with a £30,000 borrowing facility which has allowed it to continue in these very testing times including the pivot to producing the hand sanitiser.

Using a 75 per cent ABV essence of Brighton Gin, the company has collaborated with leading Lewes cosmetics brand A.S Apothecary to create a hand sanitiser that is both chemically effective and gentle on the skin.

Brighton Gin’s organic ethanol and all six of its selected botanicals, as well as a mint and rosemary oil mix from A.S Apothecary, are blended to create the hand sanitiser.

The bottles are available to buy on the Brighton Gin website and since production began on March 18, the distillery has donated hundreds of bottles to key workers in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas.

Olu Peyrasse, NatWest scale acceleration manager for London, Brighton and Milton Keynes, said: “Kathy is a fantastic ambassador for all ambitious business owners out there. Her enthusiasm, grit and determination to provide an exceptional experience for her customers, her ability to adapt and eagerness to support other businesses, gives me huge confidence in the success of Brighton Gin going forward.”

Since it was founded in 2013, Brighton Gin has been actively involved in supporting the local community and voluntary sector through its ‘Community Spirit’ initiative.

Brighton Gin is the UK’s first certified vegan gin, named as Handmade Gin of the Year 2019, and made from 100 per cent organic wheat spirit. The online shop is still open selling gin bottles of various sizes and strengths and the company continues to deliver direct locally (including hand sanitiser orders) and nationwide via courier.

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