coronavirus

Hand Sanitizers, Key West-Style – Made from Rum

March 13, 2020
Share to printerest
Share to fb
Share to twitter
Share to mail
Share to print
Paul Menta and Commissioner Craig Cates
Paul Menta and Commissioner Craig Cates

Hand sanitizer is hard to come by these days, so Paul Menta of First Legal Rum Distillery in Key West took matters into his own (clean) hands.

He made his own product using the runoff – impurities and oils – from distilling rum. Known as the “tails,” the 140 proof alcohol is mixed with aloe and transmission gel, used in ultrasounds, and bottle it. The sanitizer dries quickly and is a handy product for those who can’t get to a sink to wash their hands.

Menta gave away the 3-oz bottles around town to service workers, retailers, mail carriers and anyone else hard at work in Key West during high season for tourists.

Bottling the sanitizer
Menta with commissioner Craig Cates
Menta passed out free bottles to workers in Key West
Workers in Key West get free bottles
Photo 1: Bottling the sanitizer
Photo 2: Menta with commissioner Craig Cates
Photo 3: Menta passed out free bottles to workers in Key West
Photo 4: Workers in Key West get free bottles

“We’re getting people into the mode of washing hands and using sanitizers,” says Menta. “Everyone’s gonna smell like rum.”

Related Stories & Recipes

UPDATED: Restaurants, Bars to Close Early

New: The CDC is now recommending calling off any gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, in addition to conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, a...