Hotel Tango Distillery, Indianapolis, is temporarily adding a new high-proof ethyl alcohol-based product to its line of craft spirits that can be used as hand cleaner, due to the worldwide shortage of sanitizers caused by the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Hotel Tango Distillery team is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and is taking disciplined measures in response to this worldwide pandemic that has affected more than 100 countries. More recently, when the outbreak surfaced in Indiana, where Hotel Tango is located, the company felt compelled to pitch in and fight the spread of the virus.

“With the shortages of hand sanitizers across the United States, we felt like we had to do something to help,” said Travis Barnes, chief executive officer and founder, in a statement. “Since we already have facilities and equipment geared toward producing high-proof alcohol, which is a common cleaning and anti-bacterial agent; it feels like we have a duty to help wherever we can. This is a time for all of us to come together, and combine our focused efforts to get COVID-19 under control.”

The distillery is utilizing the FDA-approved ingredient xanthan gum in combination with denatured alcohol and water to produce a cleaning rub product. Hotel Tango will be donating the entire first batch of the cleaner to local Indianapolis and Fort Wayne shelters, with hopes of eventually shipping the product to military bases overseas in affected countries and possibly selling bottles at their two tasting rooms, if deemed necessary.

The production of the alcohol-based cleaner will not affect the company’s current spirits capabilities, as they will be producing it in a quarantined area, separate from their traditional distilling and bottling operations. No equipment used for the production of any Hotel Tango spirits will be used for the production of the cleaning product.

Hotel Tango reiterates that the new hand cleaner is not meant for human consumption, and is for external use only.