“It is important to recognize there has been a supply chain breakdown,” says Rifino Valentine, Founder of Valentine Distilling Co., Ferndale, Mich. “Due to this breakdown, consumers in southeast Michigan haven’t been able to gain access to products such as hand sanitizer.” So, Valentine has begun producing Royal Clean’ Hand Sanitizer. That is the importance of regional manufacturing. We have been able to not only support the regional market, but supply consumers with a product they need.”
In addition to hand sanitizer, Valentine raised more than $12,000 to support hospitality workers in need during the COVID-19 quarantine crisis. The money was raised through the release of an elite, 12-year old single barrel of bourbon. The special cask yielded just 62 bottles at 137.6 proof, of which 50 were sold at a price of $350 per bottle.
All of the markup, more than $250 from each bottle, will go to support the Great Lakes Wine and Spirits Fund and others. Each fund supports beverage service workers in unique ways such as crowd-sourcing tips, advancing the bartending profession, or employing the more than 800 Michigan workers in the alcohol beverage hospitality industry.