Cooperative Living June 2020 - 16

YourBusiness | by Steven Johnson, Staff Writer
From Spirits
to Sanitizer
Va. distillery changes its focus
in response to pandemic
U
ntil a few weeks ago, KO
Distilling was a place to stop
by, have a unique cocktail and
learn all about the art of handcrafting
fine spirits.
" Unique " still applies to the
Manassas, Va.-based distillery, but for a
different reason. In light of the COVID19
pandemic, the featured menu item is
alcohol-based hand sanitizer produced
at a time when the solution has become
an essential commodity.
The distillery is producing about
1,600 gallons a week in 5-gallon
containers under the name Bare Knuckle
Hand Sanitizer, a takeoff on its Bare
Knuckle whiskey brand.
When the crisis surfaced, Bill
Karlson, co-founder and CEO of KO
Distilling, a member of Northern
Virginia Electric Cooperative, closed
the distillery, the tasting room and
guided tours. The company's 15
employees worked remotely.
Initially, Karlson envisioned the
shutdown as a chance to upgrade the
plant's chill water-cooling system. But
it quickly became apparent that KO
could help in other ways, and the
distillery started producing ethanol
for sanitizer on April 9.
" When coming up with a name
for our hand sanitizer, it was fitting for
us to use Bare Knuckle. We are glad to
be able to help the community fight
the good fight during this coronavirus
pandemic, " he says.
The change required some physical
plant adjustments. Karlson and Ryan
Hendricks, the head distiller, modified
distilling processes and equipment to
be able to produce the high-proof
ethanol needed for top-grade sanitizer.
The biggest change came for some
of the company's sales representatives,
who started working on the production
14 | Cooperative Living | June 2020
co-opliving.com
From left, Bill Karlson and John O'Mara, co-founders of KO Distilling,
are safely making the transition from spirits to sanitizer.
side. " They're making hand sanitizer,
labeling buckets, so it's been different
for them. For the distilling team, it's
basically the same thing they've always
been doing, which is making ethanol, "
Karlson says.
Karlson is targeting donations and
deliveries to first responders, hospitals,
charitable organizations and nursing
homes in the Prince William County
area.
Additional quantities are being
sold through government channels
or to essential businesses to help
cover production costs and support
the continued employment of the
distillery staff.
Eventually, Karlson hopes the
5-year-old business can return to its
planned mission of fine spirits -
it is one of only about 50 craft distilleries
in Virginia. It's still selling bottled spirits
online in the state with curbside delivery
or secure shipping.
But he anticipates making large
quantities of hand sanitizer for about
three to six months after the pandemic
settles.
" The supply chain is going to take
a while to adjust to the new normal, "
he says. ■
For more information on the sanitizer for
worthy organizations, visit kodistilling.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF KO DISTILLING
http://www.kodistilling.com http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2020

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