A Canadian radiologist and his wife are pursuing the dream of running a craft distillery in Ontario, making spirits that range from gin to whisky to shochu, a rice-based distilled drink that's been called the national beverage of Japan.
Dr. Peter Stroz and his wife Dr. Sophia Pantazi -- also a radiologist -- run 66 Gilead Distillery on an 80-acre farm in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Their distillery was the subject of a profile on the website Vice.com.
They acquired the farmland 10 years ago, predicting that the wave of craft distillers sweeping the U.S. would also come to Canada. They continue to work as radiologists in Toronto while running the business.
Stroz told Vice that he sees parallels between distilling spirits and radiology, particularly in the attention to detail that's required while trying to deliver the best service possible. Having a science background has also helped, and Stroz said he approaches distilling with the same rigor and discipline with which he approaches radiology.
In addition to shochu, whisky, and gin, 66 Gilead also makes Duck Island rum, a spirit named after an island nearby from which bootleggers would smuggle rum and whisky to the U.S. during Prohibition.
"We've had relatives of these rum runners visit here, and my grandfather was one of these rum runners, too," Stroz told Vice.
Things are a bit different now: 66 Gilead has to contend with Canadian taxes and laws on spirits, which Stroz believes are unfairly stacked against distillers compared to those who produce other types of alcoholic beverages.
