Brian Christenson, Blinking Owl Distillery

Amid the catastrophic coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is vital to consider a step back again and recognize the positives. Appreciating glimmers of mild inspires us to defeat these dim and complicated periods together.

Just one beacon is selfless support. We have found the plenty of functions, each small and big, by corporations and folks alike, functioning challenging to limit long lasting destruction. These are not only folks on the entrance lines—ER health professionals, nurses, 1st responders—but also the great Samaritans future doorway, avoiding this disaster from harming their fast communities. These are the grocery retailer stockers, the postal staff, the small business homeowners, and even these who are shopping for their elderly neighbors. These are the Community Heroes.

We suggestion our hats and increase our glasses to all of the regional heroes out there—to honor these undertaking the thankless get the job done now to assist their communities down the street to an uncertain potential ahead.

In this 1st installment of Community Heroes, we’re highlighting the crew of Blinking Owl Distillery in Orange County, California. We lately caught up with CEO Brian Christenson to find out what he’s undertaking to assist.

Title: Brian Christenson
Title: Main Govt Owl, Blinking Owl Distillery
Spot: Santa Ana, Calif.
Many years on the Task: five

MJ: How has your get the job done adjusted in the past two weeks?
BRIAN CHRISTENSON: It is considerably adjusted. Our total logistics has switched more than from manufacturing of vodkas, aquavit, gin and whiskies to creating hand sanitizer entire-time. This means sourcing new components, new bottles/packaging, new products, and a new system which involves a great deal of improvising and discovering on the fly.

What is the biggest challenge at hand correct now?
Not currently being able to generate adequate hand sanitizer to meet up with desire, which also means we simply cannot get it to as several individuals as we would like to.

Do you come to feel at-danger or threatened?
I think we all come to feel a bit at danger and uneasy from the not known of this pandemic. These thoughts do not overpower the mind-boggling response of gratitude and support we are acquiring daily from the community, who are encouraging and thanking us daily. It genuinely propels us forward.

Do you recognize any signs of hope?
The mind-boggling optimistic response from individuals who are donating content, time and money. It is astounding to see and practical experience the support, kindness and willingness from individuals all more than who want to contribute to our initiatives.

Do you come to feel that individuals really should be functioning correct now? How can folks assist in all this?
I do not have a great remedy other than try out to do what the experts talk to for the greater great of us all. We are attempting to do what we can by creating hand sanitizer, whilst also undertaking what we can to restrict the danger of exposure to our employees, prospects and community. Ideally this is furnishing something of price to anyone during these odd, uncertain periods.

You can donate to Blinking Owl’s initiatives in this article.

Do you know a Community Hero creating a change on the entrance strains of your community? There are three effortless ways to nominate somebody to be highlighted: one. Nominate your Community Hero in the feedback below and basically permit us know why they are entitled to to be highlighted and how we can contact them. 2. Send out us a Direct Message on Men’s Journal Instagram with your nomination. 3. Post their picture on Instagram using #weoweyouadrink (either on Tales or Feed). 

For accessibility to special gear video clips, celeb interviews, and far more, subscribe on YouTube!