DAYTON—On Monday, March 30, XO Alambic, the Dayton distillery announced the immediate start of production of ethanol-based, anti-viral hand sanitizer, CovidEx AV. Friday, March 27 was the distillery’s last day of regular whisky and brandy production and the company has adapted its production schedule to answer the local need. Last week, the Columbia County Emergency Management Director, Ashley Strickland, asked XO Alambic owner and distiller, Rusty Figgins, if he would consider making ethanol-based hand sanitizer for the local hospital and for first responders.

The Emergency Management...