Port Morris Distillery switches to making
hand sanitizer for the community
BY JASON COHEN
For a decade, the Port Morris
Distillery has provided alcohol
for the community. But
when COVID-19 arrived, it transitioned
to creating a different
product.
Located at 780 E. 133rd St., it
was founded in 2010 by Rafael
Barbosa and William Valentin.
The two distill a specialty
spirit, Pitorro, a Puerto Rican
Moonshine native to the island
of Puerto Rico.
Valentin told the Bronx
Times that when the governor
told non-essential businesses
to close, he and Barbosa agreed
they should shutter.
“Like everyone, we were
afraid of what the virus could
do to us or our employees,” he
explained. We didn’t want to put
anyone at risk.”
However, the duo soon realized
they could stay open and
help the community. They decided
to make hand sanitizer,
which involves ethanol, glycerin
and peroxide. The distillery
has ethanol and they purchased
the other chemicals in
bulk.
With a full staff and all
hands on deck, they began producing
the sanitizer two weeks
ago. It has been selling like hotcakes
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BRONX TIMES R 46 EPORTER, MAY 8-14, 2020 BTR
and in total, they have
distributed about 4,000 gallons
of the product.
Companies have bought it
and individuals can purchase it
on their website.
“Any time you’re able to
make money and help other people,
it’s always a good feeling,”
he said. “If someone had told
me I would be doing this I would
have told them they’re crazy.”
Valentin said he is grateful
the distillery is open. They are
fi lling up delivery trucks every
day and making sanitizer nonstop.
“Not only are we able to survive
the storm we’ve been hit
with, but a lot of people are not
going to be able to get out of this
storm,” he said. “It’s a blessing
in disguise.”
Valentin noted that they
did not receive money from the
city or federal government and
was shocked that only 1 percent
of the small businesses in the
Bronx got fi nancial help from
the city.
People are struggling and
things may not get better for a
while, he said.
“A lot of business owners
are hurting right now,” he explained.
“They’re not going
to open back up. I don’t know
where the money is going, but
it’s defi nitely not going to the
south Bronx.”
Port Morris Distillery co-owner Rafael Barbosa making hand sanitizer Photo courtesy of Port Morris Distillery
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