Vermont Spirits

What Vermont Spirits does

Vermont Spirits Distilling Co, founded in 1999 in Quechee, Vermont, is Vermont's oldest craft distillery. It produces a portfolio of small-batch, handcrafted spirits across three core lines: No 14 Bourbon (90 proof bourbon finished with Vermont maple), Vermont Gold Vodka (80 proof vodka distilled from maple sap, gluten- and grain-free), and three expressions of Coppers Gin (American, Sugarwood, and Barrel-aged, 85–90 proof). It also offers distillery-exclusive SKUs — Esprit de Pomme (Calvados-style apple brandy), Creme de Cassis de Vermont, 15 Hands Bourbon, and the 1791 Oak Barrel Cocktail — sold only at its on-site Meeting House and Harry's Cocktail Lounge.

Production is built around five custom-built stills, including a one-of-a-kind glass column still and repurposed equipment (a chocolate-kettle copper pot still and a maple-syrup-arch stripping still), with sensory-based cutting by Master Distiller Harry Gorman. The 'forest-to-bottle' vertical integration is anchored by Richardson Family Farm as primary maple supplier, with sustainability initiatives pursued in partnership with Dartmouth College's Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship toward a carbon-negative goal.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct-to-consumer sales through the company e-commerce site and Barcart, on-premise retail and tasting/tour experiences at the Meeting House in Quechee Gorge Village, and wholesale distribution through libdib (CA, CT, FL, NJ, NY with CO, IL, MD announced) and broader U.S. retail, restaurant, bar, and hotel accounts. Pricing is unit-based per 750mL/375mL bottle with complimentary shipping over $125 and a $100 Brand Associate tasting event fee. The company has won multiple Gold medals, Double Gold medals, and 90+ point ratings at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition, Bartender Spirits Awards, and Wine Enthusiast, and was a 2024 USA Today Best Craft Vodka 2nd Runner Up. It is privately held, self-funded (no external investment rounds disclosed), and operates with 1–10 employees.

Name

Vermont Spirits

Legal name

Vermont Spirits Distilling Co

Website

https://vermontspirits.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vermont Spirits Distilling Co is Vermont's oldest craft distillery (founded 1999), producing small-batch bourbon, maple-sap vodka, and gin for DTC consumers, U.S. retail/hospitality accounts, and on-premise tasting/tour visitors at its Quechee, VT Meeting House.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• Small batch bourbon
• Maple vodka
• Artisan american gin
• Forest-to-bottle spirits

Headquarters

HQ city

Quechee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Spirit Sales: Revenue from selling bottled spirits directly to consumers through the company website and at the Meeting House distillery location. Products include No 14 Bourbon, Vermont Gold Vodka, and Coppers Gins (American, Sugarwood, Barrel).
2. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from selling products in bulk to retailers, restaurants, bars, and hotels across most U.S. states through distribution partners.
3. Distillery Experiences: Revenue from 90-minute immersive Tour & Tasting experiences at the Meeting House, including guided tastings and barrel samples. Tastings at Harry's Cocktail Lounge also generate revenue.
4. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold for use at the Meeting House for spirits or merchandise purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Vermont Spirits is a craft distillery producing small-batch, handcrafted spirits from locally-sourced Vermont ingredients, including bourbon (No 14 Bourbon), vodka (Vermont Gold Vodka made from maple sap), and three expressions of gin (Coppers American, Sugarwood, and Barrel). The company operates a forest-to-bottle production model, using custom-built stills and a flagship retail location (The Meeting House) in Quechee, Vermont, supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce and wholesale distribution across most U.S. states.

Product overview

Vermont Spirits Distilling Co is Vermont's oldest craft distillery (founded 1999) producing a portfolio of small-batch, handcrafted spirits. The core product lineup includes No 14 Bourbon (90 proof bourbon finished with Vermont maple), Vermont Gold Vodka (80 proof, distilled from maple sap, gluten/grain-free), and three varieties of Coppers Gin (American, Sugarwood, and Barrel varieties ranging from 85-90 proof). The company operates on a 'forest-to-bottle' philosophy, emphasizing local maple and botanicals. Additionally, the distillery offers exclusive products only available at the Meeting House in Quechee, Vermont, including Esprit de Pomme (apple brandy), Creme de Cassis de Vermont (blackcurrant liqueur), 15 Hands Bourbon, and the 1791 Oak Barrel Cocktail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• No 14 Bourbon: Bourbon whiskey named in honor of Vermont, the 14th state. 90 proof. Blended and finished with a touch of pure Vermont maple.
• Vermont Gold Vodka
• Coppers American Gin
• Coppers Sugarwood Gin
• Coppers Barrel Gin
• Esprit de Pomme
• Creme de Cassis de Vermont
• 15 Hands Bourbon
• 1791 Oak Barrel Cocktail

Products and services

• No 14 Bourbon

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple Gold medals and 90+ point ratings from prestigious competitions (Wine Enthusiast, San Francisco World Spirit Competition, Bartender Spirits Awards)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Richardson Family FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary maple supplier partner. Provides pure Grade A Vermont maple for Vermont Gold Vodka production and collaboration on Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup. Located on Hartland Hill, built in 1907. The maple is used for the maple mash (distilled vodka) and various maple-based products and cocktails.
• Dartmouth College Magnuson Center for EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Vermont Spirits on sustainability initiatives. Students work with the company to explore creative ways to lower emissions and work toward zero carbon footprint goal.
• Billings Farm & MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for events including Music, Film & Food Soiree and TEDxHartlandHill. Vermont Spirits serves craft cocktails at these events.
• Eden CidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of Orleans Herbal cider used in the 1791 Oak Barrel Cocktail. Eden Ice Cider also featured in Golden Apple and other cocktail recipes.
• Woodstock InnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatures Woodstock Maple Drop cocktail made with Vermont Gold Vodka. Located in Woodstock, VT.
• USModernistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Modernism Week events in Palm Springs. Vermont Spirits serves signature cocktails at iconic modernist venues including The Sheats-Goldstein House in LA and the Kirk and Anne Douglas House.
• Quechee Garden ClubminorOthersLocal community organization that Vermont Spirits collaborates with as part of environmental stewardship initiatives.
• Pollinator Pathway ProjectminorOthersEnvironmental initiative Vermont Spirits supports as part of sustainability and land stewardship commitment.
• Blake HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreserves maker that provides botanical shrubs for cocktails, including Blueberry-Basil shrub used in the Blueberry Basil American Gin Spritzer.
• Abracadabra CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coffee roaster providing cold brew coffee for Maple Magic 14 cocktail. Single origin, high quality product from neighbors.
• Simon Pearce RestaurantminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUpscale restaurant featuring No 14 Manhattan cocktail made with No 14 Bourbon.
• Boston Harbor Hotel's Rowes Wharf BarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatures signature No 14 Bourbon cocktails including Vermont Ginger and Blackberry Smash. Hosts barrel select events with CEO Randy Carlson.
• Vermont Soapstone CominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Vermont company making soapstone whiskey stones sold at the Meeting House alongside Vermont Spirits products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brown-Forman: Brown-Forman is one of the largest US spirits companies (Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve). It represents the broad incumbent competitive set that Vermont Spirits competes against for shelf space, on-premise placements, and craft-credibility brand storytelling.

Direct peers

• FEW Spirits: FEW Spirits is a Chicago-based craft distillery producing award-winning gin, whiskey, and bourbon in small batches. It is a comparable small-batch craft distiller competing for the same national craft-spirits consumer, distribution channels, and on-premise placements as Vermont Spirits.
• WhistlePig: WhistlePig is a Vermont-based craft distillery producing premium rye whiskey. It is one of Vermont's most prominent craft spirits producers and the closest geographic and category peer to Vermont Spirits, competing for the same on-premise accounts and craft-spirits consumer base in the state.
• Caledonia Spirits (Barr Hill): Caledonia Spirits is a Vermont craft distillery best known for Barr Hill gin and vodka, with a strong farm-to-bottle narrative and pollinator advocacy. It overlaps directly with Vermont Spirits on craft gin positioning, Vermont terroir storytelling, and agricultural sourcing.
• St. George Spirits: St. George Spirits is a California-based craft producer of gin, vodka, whiskey, and liqueurs known for botanical and terroir-driven expressions. It is a comparable craft distillery pushing category boundaries (e.g., unusual botanicals, alternative bases) similar to Vermont Spirits' maple-vodka approach.
• Tuthilltown Spirits: Tuthilltown is a New York craft distillery (Hudson Whiskey line) producing small-batch bourbon, rye, and gin. It is a similar-sized craft distillery competing in the same regional on-premise accounts and craft-spirits retail segment.
• Corsair Distillery: Corsair is a Nashville-based craft distillery producing experimental gin, whiskey, and vodka with a focus on novel grains and ingredient sourcing. Its willingness to push ingredients and methods beyond the mainstream parallels Vermont Spirits' differentiated maple-sap vodka approach.
• Koval Distillery: Koval is a Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits from millet and other non-traditional grains. Its alternative-base, ingredient-forward positioning closely parallels Vermont Spirits' single-ingredient maple-sap vodka story.
• Kings County Distillery: Kings County is a Brooklyn-based craft distillery producing bourbon, whiskey, and gin in small batches with a strong on-site tasting room and tour business. Its model of premium product + tourist/distillery-experience revenue mirrors Vermont Spirits' Meeting House and Tour & Tasting operation.
• Mad River Distillers: Mad River Distillers is another Vermont-based craft producer of bourbon, rye, vodka, and maple spirits. It is a direct in-state peer with overlapping product categories (especially maple-based spirits) and competes in the same New England craft distribution network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vermontspirits
• Facebookfacebook.com/vermontspiritsdistillingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/vermontspirits

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Spirits