CLC World’s Duchally Country Estate’s distillery, Gatehouse Gin, has revealed they are helping the pandemic effort by utilising their knowledge to produce hand sanitiser while raising money for a good cause.
The Gatehouse Hand Sanitiser is the idea of Tony Reeman-Clarke, Gatehouse Gin’s head of distilling.
Reeman-Clarke said he and his team has produced more than 1,000 bottles to date, helping to aid people in the fight against COVID-19, while raising money for the Carers Trust, a UK based charity which aims to improve support, services, and recognition for unpaid carers living with the challenges of caring for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.
“During the first lockdown there was a national shortage of hand sanitiser, or it became very expensive, so it made sense to put our knowledge to good use,” Gatehouse Gin’s master distiller said.
And, while there were a few initial teething problems in getting the product just right, the team at Gatehouse Gin were able to quickly roll-out a product to help with the national effort of fighting COVID-19.
“There are a few ingredients on the go,” Reeman-Clark explained. “Aloe vera to give it consistency, and our unique ingredient, Gatehouse Gin heads and tails, which is the product we don’t use at the start of a distillation as it is poor quality and very strong, but great to change the smell of the sanitiser.”
He said that feedback by members of the public and CLC World guests has been great, adding that the hand sanitiser quickly became a firm favourite with CLC World Members.
“People love the smell of the sanitiser,” the master distiller added. “It does get a little addictive, which is good as you can never over clean your hands!”
CLC World news: A gin with a difference
Gatehouse Gin was launched in 2019 and is a joint venture between Reeman-Clark’s distillery, Strathearn Distillery, and CLC World’s Duchally Country Estate.
Ingredients, including sweet red apples and juniper berries, are sourced directly from CLC World Duchally Country Estate’s botanical gardens and orchards, creating a craft gin that has intense and distinctive flavours, coupled with a creamy smoothness.
Located just two miles from Gleneagles, Duchally Country Estate is an elegant country house hotel offering a luxurious getaway. Owned and operated by CLC World, a shared holiday ownership company that started life as Club La Costa, the Duchally Country Estate offers guests high-quality facilities and amenities coupled with incredible service.
Commenting on the charitable efforts, Reeman-Clarke added: “Every year CLC World and Gatehouse Gin do something for a worthwhile charity. We will let it run all this year and donate at the end of it.”
Gatehouse Hand Sanitiser is available for purchase at CLC World’s Duchally Country Estate, and is available to all Duchally Country Estate staff free of charge.