Jimmy Rum sells out of hand sanitiser just days after releasing its first batch
Rum king James McPherson is running his 1500-litre copper still Matilda around the clock to manufacture a sought-after product in the fight against COVID-19. And it’s flying off the shelves.
South East
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James McPherson is no stranger to innovation but even he is surprised by his latest venture.
About 18 months ago he swapped his 20-year career as a marine engineer and started making rum, opening the state’s first rum distillery in October 2019.
Last week he cranked up the 1500-litre copper still at the Dromana distillery and started making hand sanitiser.
“If you’d told me 10 days ago that I’d be making hand sanitiser I would have called you crazy,” McPherson said.
The first batch of hand sanitiser went on sale on Friday, March 27 and sold out in four days.
“We have been truely overwhelmed by the response from the community,” Mr McPherson said.
He said the cellar door was now closeed to give the team a chance to make more.
“It’s a product that is desperately needed and as long as that’s the case we’ll keep making it.”
Mr McPherson said most of his customers were Mornington Peninsula locals.
“We’ve also been supplying oncology clinics and the CFA; any frontline responders who need it have become our priority,” he said.
The business was also working overtime to establish a shipping service for customers unable to get to their Dromana base.
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Customers were also visiting the cellar door buying rum and the latest release Oaked small batch 6 was likely to be popular.
“Supporting Mornington Peninsula players is important to us and we also sell Bass and Flinders gin, Foxey’s Hangout wines and Two Sons Whiskey,” Mr McPherson said.
Jimmy Rum has 50ml hand sanitiser for $8 a bottle, 500ml bottles for $22.50 and 700ml bottles for $31.50.
The distillery and cellar door is at 6 Brasser Ave, Dromana.
The cellar door is expected to reopen at noon on Friday, April 3.