Chivas Brothers has begun the transportation of its NHS-approved hand sanitiser – produced at the Plymouth Gin distillery and packaged by the team at Chivas Brothers’ Kilmalid site in Dumbarton – to NHS Scotland’s central distribution hub. From there it will go on to support Healthboards across the country.

These efforts follow the Scotch whisky company’s distribution of more than 10,000 litres of hand sanitiser to 235 social care providers and charities across Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire to help in the fight against COVID-19.

In addition, Chivas Brothers has commenced employee-led contact-free deliveries across its Scotch whisky heartland of Speyside and on Orkney, where its Scapa distillery is located. So far, employees from the Miltonduff distillery have delivered almost 1,300 litres to 37 charities and organisations supporting the vulnerable using Chivas fleet vehicles, with more scheduled this week and beyond.

Gordon Buist, Production Director at Chivas Brothers, commented: “As NHS Scotland’s first pro-bono hand sanitiser supplier we look forward to supporting more frontline healthcare workers across the country who are working tirelessly in the fight against the pandemic.

“We’re fortunate to have been able to repurpose part of our production facilities to the bottling and packaging of hand sanitiser, enabling us to better assist NHS Scotland in the fight against the virus. I’m so proud of all our employees, partners and suppliers who are working together to support the communities that mean so much to us during these uncertain times.”

Brian Roach, NHS Scotland Category Manager, said: “The donation of hand sanitiser from Chivas Brothers is a significant gesture, for which NHS Scotland is hugely grateful. This sanitiser will contribute towards appropriately protecting NHS Scotland clinical and frontline staff as they undertake their essential daily activities.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Chivas Brothers to provide such a worthwhile outcome. The organisation deserves huge credit for deviating from standard activity and providing such a substantial donation for the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s NHS workers.”