Spirit of York Re-Dedicates Production Facilities Towards Producing Hand Sanitizer
For FAQs regarding our hand sanitizer, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
As the world fights to stop the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing and an increased focus on personal hygiene, hand sanitizer has become a scarce commodity throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Spirit of York, which operates out of the Distillery District in Toronto, is working to combat this shortage by using the alcohol from their facilities to produce an alcohol based hand sanitizer solution. The hand sanitizer has been carefully crafted to follow the strict guidelines of the World Health Organization.
The sanitizer will be offered on-site at the distillery starting March 19th, and until supplies last. All proceeds from the sale of this hand sanitizer will be going to the Food Bank in order to support community members that have restricted access to food, or for those who are unable to leave their homes.
FULL DETAILS:
- Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am - 8pm, or until quantities run out (closed Sundays, Mondays)
- Product will be available at a service window
- 10 bottles (max) per person
- Product is $3 with proceeds given to local food banks
- Free for those who can't afford it, and/or people over 65
“As a company, we have always maintained a focus on the spirit of community and giving back,” says Gerry Guitor, Founder of Spirit of York. “Now that we are in our greatest hour of need, we have been working hard to find new ways to give back. Using our facilities to produce hand sanitizer seemed like a perfect way to support the public while also giving back to more vulnerable communities.”
Since starting in 2017, Spirit of York has actively contributed to their local community through various initiatives. Spirit of York has always maintained a policy of dedicating 10% of overall proceeds to social and cultural groups across the province including The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet of Canada, and many more.
Located in Toronto's historic Distillery District, Spirit of York Distillery Co. is committed to crafting Canada's best tasting spirits. Using the finest locally-sourced rye and water from the Canadian Shield, the spirits are truly an authentic Ontarian product -- from grain to glass.
Spirit of York fuses time-honoured distillation techniques with modern processes, to deliver a superior quality with a taste of the unexpected. Their goal is to remind all Canadians that we are capable of creating great quality products right here at home.
FAQs
What time are you open?
We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 11-6 p.m and closed on Sundays, Mondays. For all the latest updates, please follow us across all social media platforms at @spiritofyork.
Where is your hand sanitizer available? / Do you do delivery? / Can I order online?
Our hand sanitizer is only available at our distillery at this time (12 Trinity St, Toronto, ON). We do not have delivery available and customers cannot place orders online.
How many bottles of hand sanitizer can I purchase?
Due to overwhelming demand, we are capping it at ten bottles per customer.
How much is each bottle of hand sanitizer?
Each bottle is $3, with all proceeds going to local food banks. It is also free to those who cannot afford it or those who are over 65 years old.
Can I donate more money than the $3 for hand sanitizer?
Yes, you can! We welcome donations beyond the price of the bottle. ALL proceeds will go to local food banks.
Can I purchase spirits while picking up a bottle of hand sanitizer?
Yes, you can. Customers can purchase our spirits and hand sanitizers at our walk-up window.
Do you still have hand sanitizer available? I’m planning to go by your distillery today.
Please follow us on social media at @spiritofyork for all the latest updates. If we are running low or sell out, we will notify our followers there. Please check-in daily for the latest updates!
I’m contacting you from an organization // doctor’s office // shelter, etc… and we are in need of hand sanitizers. Can we make an order?
For special requests like this, please complete the following Sanitizer Order Form and a member from our team will get back to you. Please keep in mind that we’re receiving an overwhelming amount of inquiries at this time, so please be patient with us. But rest assured we will get back to you and definitely want to help if we can.
If you have a question that was not answered here, please contact san@spiritofyork.com. Please keep in mind that we’re receiving an overwhelming amount of inquiries at this time, and will try our best to respond in a timely manner.
Thank you so much for thinking of others
I have hand sanitizer so I don’t need any but I feel for those that are in need
A very kind selfless and thoughtful act on your part
Community is you
Thank you for helping others
Bless you for such generosity and typical Canadian spirit of community
Thank you for helping people in time of need!
I think this is a wonderful thing your doing and I hope others follow in your footsteps. God Bless.
Great endeavor.
Très bonne idée.
Don’t quit. Produce more.
You will draw a huge crowd, how will you create social distancing?
Way to go on the hand sanitizer!!!!!!!!
In health!
Be Blessed , Shelley
This is so heartwarming. Truly Canadian. Thank you for your generosity, kindness and showing a true spirit of community in such uncertain times.
I live in Pickering and would like to purchase some of your product for my personal use. I am a real estate appraiser and, while I am taking precautions, I am still required to enter peoples homes to do my work. I would like to have some of you sanitizer and would need to have a courier come and pick up 3 or four bottles. Is this possible?
Such an awesome thing that you are doing!!!! Thank you.
When we get through this because of people and companies like yours…..I will be getting some gin.
Amazing!!!
Thank you for what you are doing.
Although I do no live near you, (Grenville, QC), I will be sure to visit your brewery once we can start travelling again, and baseball is back in Toronto.
Amazing novel move to help the community
You are showing how responsible and decent CANADIANS can be
Carole
Congratulations on your initiative and generosity by manufacturing much needed sanitizers. I applaud your efforts and your genuine passion to help others. This behaviour will resonate in increased business as we overcome this pandemic. Your efforts will not be forgotten. Thank you.
So, you are not a brewery. My bad!
I do love gin, so I will still visit next time I am in Toronto.
Thanks again for what you are doing.
congratulations..this company’s leadership in helping the community is to be commended.
thank you and your team for making this possible.
as a senior I appreciate your efforts tremendously
unfortunately I am unable to come to the Distillery to purchase.
keep safe, God bless you all.
Kudos to U!!!! What a brilliant idea. I have shared your idea with friends on the Island of Roatan Honduras who are some of the most vulnerable ppl; the mainland has cut them off from supplies so if they can produce hand sanitizer locally…. wow that could make the difference between life and death for so many.
Thank you again for all U and your staff are doing. 💕🙏
Love what you’re doing to support our community and our city. This is what amazing leadership, innovation and connection! Thank you for being such a great example! Stay healthy and blessed.
What you are doing with the Hand Sanitizer is so beautiful! We need more people like yourselves not only in our city, but the world.
From this day forward I will be buying your products and spreading the news of your amazing company.
Bless you all!
Stay safe and healthy.
Lynn
Hi
You are doing a good thing with the sanitizers. Keep it up.
Thank you
During this stressful time it is awesome to see the community come together to help each other. I commend your generosity for such a worthy cause and I wish you well throughout this pandemic. Thank you ….hearing this news has made me feel that people still care about others.
GOOD FOR YOU n many KUDOS for what you’re doing and showing that Canadian spirit alive and well (sorry about pun lol)
Good on all of you for doing the hand sanitizer production and distribution of funds to charity.
Bruce Finger
Victoria BC
Is your ‘Hand Sanitizer’ only available in Toronto?
I have not been able to find any sanitizer here in the Sudbury area. Today I spoke with an employee at ‘Shoppers Drugmart’ and they said I would be lucky if I found any hand sanitizer in Canada, or the World.
I just saw your company on CP 24 and I just wanted to commend you for your support for your fellow Canadians! It made me smile when so much on the news has been so devastating. Good job and I’m with you there in spirit.
I am so proud to be Canadian when I read how your company is helping the citizens of Toronto. Thank You and God Bless.
You people are such a breath of fresh air! I’d love to buy some in support all of your efforts and the extraordinary kindness and generosity by donating your proceeds to a good cause. Are there any bottles left for purchase?
I think this is amazing and I want a bottle! Proceeds going to help those in need is a great idea. Your distillery totally has the “Spirit of Gicing Back” and I support anyone who helps their community! Good for you and Toronto!
THANK YOU for the exceptional example of what a humanitarian is and should be.
Thank you from all of us !!
Awesome!! Cheers to you and your employees for doing this. I don’t live in the GTA but I was impressed with your compassion for your fellow humans. Just seen you on global news.
How wonderful that you’re pitching in during the Covid crisis. This consumer will remember by supporting your core business.
So great to see a small company doing good! Thank you! I was not aware of your company until the news spoke of the sanitizer you are producing. I look forward to taking a field trip with some friends into Toronto one day and your distillery will be on the list!
Hi Five to your company and your employees. I am a confirmed Gin drinker and have enjoyed the uniqueness of gins from around the world and Canada. I will look for and request your product from local LCBOs.
Cheers Doug from Shannonville Ontario
Your team is making a difference in your community! Amazing teamwork and leadership action!
DeannaWhite London, ON
Hi there i was wondering if you still have handcsanutizer. Im not sure if you still have any stock left. I never had a chance to even get one small bottle thos whole time. Thank you for what you are doing for the us. We all really appreciate it❤❤❤
On my way! Please don’t run out 🙂
Hi,
Great news you are producing sanitizer. Who can I connect to regarding the possibilities of larger quantities for Unity Health Toronto hospitals?
Regards, Christine
Can I have my daughter pick up sanitizer for me as I have a physical disability & can not drive & I am over 65 but could give her my photo id to show you. Thanks all you are doing & I looking to your help. Joe Werb
Could you please let me know when you will have more hand sanitizer. I will run out in a couple of days, and when you will be open.
Also, I do have a car so if you are donating or have to get a large amount to vulnerable people, I can help deliver when I am not working.
Thanks for doing this. Also, I love your gin, hoping you have some in stock. It’s going to be a long ride.
Thank you so much for doing this! We are a small non-profit, and are having a hard time purchasing hand sanitizer for our service. I hope to be able to purchase some from you today if you have stock available. What a wonderful company………..so Canadian. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!
Hi there and thank you for what you’re doing for local food banks. Is there a way to get the hand sanitizer through the mail?
Can I place an order online and pick it up?
I came by to pickup a bottle of sanitizer and a nice gentleman told me to stay in my car & he would bring to me. You guys are doing an awesome service to help.
Thank you
Trying your hand sanitizer, totally grateful and appreciative of your walk-up window and generous spirit in service. Next we’ll have to try your drinking solutions.
Spirit of York = Spirit of helping the community in times of need