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Grab a coffee and pull up a chair—welcome to another incredible episode of Coffee in the Park featuring Geoff Stewart, the founder and owner of Rig Hand Distillery!

Geoff’s journey is anything but ordinary. Born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, his family moved dozens of times during his childhood—a penchant for new horizons that continued well into his adult life. He eventually attended the University of Alberta, where he met his wife and completed a degree in Dental Hygiene. Less than a year into his dental career, however, Geoff felt a calling to create something new. He began learning the art of tattooing, went back to school to earn a Fine Arts degree, and eventually owned six tattoo shops across the province.

After selling his tattoo businesses, Geoff set his sights on his next adventure. While initially looking into craft beer, he found the market saturated and pivoted to craft distilling. He traveled to Seattle to study the industry, completed an apprenticeship at a bourbon distillery in Ohio, and began experimenting at home while balancing his work in dental hygiene. His dedication paid off when he became just the second licensed craft distiller in Alberta.

Geoff shares the fascinating story behind Rig Hand Distillery's rapid growth, from their Leduc roots to their expansion into Texas and navigating international trade tariffs. He reveals the inspiration behind their iconic bottle shape—designed after the historic Leduc No. 1 oil rig—and talks about the incredible honor of Rig Hand's Rye Whiskey being named the official whiskey of Canada after sweeping 90% of the vote. Geoff also gives a preview of what’s next as Rig Hand expands beyond their 86 crafted spirits to include a full restaurant, an event venue, and even their own TV show, Still Shots!

Tune in to hear Geoff's remarkable story of grit, creativity, and building an Alberta institution from the ground up!

Check out Rig Hand Distillery here

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