A DISTILLERY more well known for producing gin, vodka and rum has supplied a housebuilding giant with hand sanitiser.

NB Distillery has teamed up with CALA Homes (East) to supply 60 litres of Nil By Mouth – a hand sanitiser produced by NB Distillery at Halfland Barns, which at 80 per cent proof is made to WHO guidelines and was created during lockdown to help with the coronavirus response.

The tie-up will see the hand and surface sanitiser used across CALA’s developments in the east of Scotland, which includes five in East Lothian, most of which are within 10 miles of the distillery.

NB Distillery is best known for its award-winning NB London Dry Gin, previously voted ‘Best London Dry Gin’ at the World Gin Awards and selected to feature as part of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

In recent years it has expanded its range to include a navy-strength gin, a citrus vodka, as well as light fruity, full-bodied and spiced rums.

Its premises, on the outskirts of North Berwick, is also normally open to visitors – and has become a VisitScotland five-star tourist attraction and shop.

Rhona Hartley, corporate and retail sales manager with NB Distillery, said: “It’s wonderful that a developer of CALA’s stature recognises the importance of using a local brand during these times.

“We were delighted to be able to step in and supply its team in east Scotland with our sanitiser, which we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to make throughout lockdown.

“The team at the distillery have worked so hard to meet demand and keep the supply going.”

As well as CALA, NB Distillery has also received significant orders from East Lothian Council, Scotland’s largest dental group Clyde Munro, as well as various care homes and schools.

Philip Hogg, sales and marketing director with CALA Homes (East), said: “When we first learned that a family-owned distillery in the region was making top-grade hand sanitiser, we felt compelled to find out more.

“The quality is excellent – and exactly what you’d expect from a brand like NB Distillery.

“It meets the required safety guidelines and it absorbs into the hands immediately, leaving no sticky residue.

“It’s great that we can support a local business at this time.

“It’s a significant need across our 11 sales offices too – and there’s a good chance we’ll be coming back to order more too.”

As part of CALA’s reopening of its sales suites, hand sanitiser stations will feature throughout as part of new health and safety measures, along with protective screens and new signs to help customers navigate the sales suites safely, while maintaining social distancing.

The developer is also urging all house hunters to book an appointment in advance, to allow it to stagger visits and to ensure it can carry out its increased cleaning programme, with time dedicated between each appointment to allow a thorough clean to take place.