Village Garage

What Village Garage does

Village Garage Distillery is a craft spirits producer headquartered in a historic former tractor dealership and town highway equipment storage building at 107 Depot St in Bennington, Vermont. The company produces small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, gin, and specialty spirits using locally-sourced Vermont grains and Vermont water, with products including Bonfire smoked maple bourbon (90 proof, $39.99), Vermont Republic Rye (barrel strength 127 proof malted rye from local grains, $74.99), L'Esprit de Vermont (whiskey finished in Armagnac casks, 107 proof, $74.99), Village Straight Bourbon and Village Rye (both 5-year aged in American White Oak, $49.99 and $44.99), Village Vodka ($24.99), Village House Gin ($24.99), and bundled offerings between $66.99 and $124.99.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (shipping to 40+ states with free shipping on orders of $100+), on-premise retail at the Bennington distillery tasting room, the Pearl's at the Garage Southern smokehouse restaurant (open Thursday-Monday 4-9pm), and third-party distribution through 802Spirits and retail liquor stores across Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts. Target customers include craft spirit enthusiasts, bars and restaurants seeking local differentiation (Putnam's Vineyard, The Archives), retail liquor stores, and private event customers. Marketing relies on social media (Instagram, Facebook), email, festival/event participation, and on-site experiences. The company is privately held, founded by Glen Sauer and Matt Cushman, with a small team led by Chief Distiller Todd Pinsonneault and Sales/Marketing Manager Doug Goble.

Name

Village Garage

Legal name

Village Garage Distillery

Website

https://villagegarage.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Village Garage Distillery is a Bennington, Vermont craft distillery producing small-batch bourbon, rye, vodka, gin, and specialty spirits from local grains, selling through DTC e-commerce shipping to 40+ states, regional retail, bars/restaurants, and an on-site smokehouse restaurant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft distilled spirits
• Small batch whiskey
• Smoked maple bourbon
• Vermont craft distillery
• Barrel aged rye

Headquarters

HQ city

Bennington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirit Sales: Direct sales of craft spirits including bourbon, rye, vodka, gin, and specialty products through online store, distillery location, and retail partners across Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, and 40+ states via shipping.
2. Restaurant - Pearl's at the Garage: Southern smokehouse dining experience featuring house-smoked meats, craft cocktails using Village Garage spirits, and live music on Thursdays. Located inside the distillery. Open 4-9pm Thursday-Monday.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Village Garage Distillery is a small-batch craft distillery in Bennington, Vermont that produces bourbon, rye, vodka, gin, and specialty spirits using locally-sourced Vermont grains and Vermont water, with products aged in American White Oak barrels. The distillery sells directly to consumers via its website (shipping to 40+ states), at its on-site tasting room, through retail liquor store partners, and through on-premise bar and restaurant placements, while also operating Pearl's at the Garage, a Southern smokehouse restaurant inside the distillery.

Product overview

Village Garage Distillery is a craft distillery producing a portfolio of spirits including bourbon (Village Bourbon, Bonfire smoked maple bourbon), rye whiskeys (Village Rye, Vermont Republic Rye), vodka, gin, and a specialty Armagnac-finished whiskey (L'Esprit de Vermont). The distillery also operates Pearl's at the Garage, an on-site restaurant serving Southern smokehouse cuisine with craft cocktails. Products are available in stores across Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York, online with shipping to 40+ states, and through bundled offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Village Bonfire Smoked Maple Bourbon Award-winning small batch smoked maple bourbon combining Village Bourbon with locally sourced Vermont smoked maple syrup from Sugar Bob's Finest Kind in Chester, VT. Notes of maple, brown sugar, and charred molasses; 90 Proof, 45% ABV, 750 mL. Targeted at craft spirit enthusiasts and bourbon connoisseurs.
• Vermont Republic Rye Barrel strength straight rye whiskey made entirely from local Vermont grains with minimal intervention, honoring Vermont's history as an independent republic from 1777 to 1791. Notes of toasted oak, baking spices, candied apricot, caramel, and butterscotch with a malted chocolate finish. 127 Proof, 63.5% ABV, 750 mL.
• Village Straight Bourbon Vermont straight bourbon whiskey made with grain from Vermont farmland using a high-rye recipe, aged five years in American White Oak barrels. Buttery smoothness with black pepper, toasty caramel, and lingering warmth. 90 Proof, 45% ABV, 750 mL.
• Village Vodka Crystalline clear vodka distilled from 100% American corn and step-blended using Vermont water at the state-of-the-art distillery. Awarded 91 points by Wine Enthusiast for its smoothness; clean and subtle as a cocktail base or on the rocks. 80 Proof, 40% ABV, 750 mL.
• Village Rye Vermont rye whiskey crafted from locally-farmed pure malted rye and aged five years in American White Oak barrels. Smooth and approachable with a sweet start and a peppery, spicy finish. 90 Proof, 45% ABV, 750 mL.
• Village House Gin American dry gin that is citrus-forward with a mild hint of juniper. Small batch, gently step-blended, and infused with traditional dried botanicals. Notes of lemon peel, orange peel, and dried citrus fruit with a fruity nose and crisp finish. 94 Proof, 47% ABV, 750 mL.
• L'Esprit de Vermont Handcrafted blend of whiskey finished in an Armagnac cask for one year, honoring Vermont's frontier history when the region was known as the 'Green Mountains.' 107 Proof, 53.5% ABV, 750 mL.
• Pearl's at the Garage Southern smokehouse dining experience inside Village Garage Distillery featuring house-smoked meats, brisket mac & cheese, fried chicken, and blackened shrimp, plus craft cocktails made with Village Garage spirits. Open Thursday through Monday, 4-9pm, with live music on Thursdays.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91 points from Wine Enthusiast for Village Vodka
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 802SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 June 2026Vermont statewide spirits distributor carrying Village Garage products including the new Vermont Republic Rye. Products available in 802Spirits stores across Vermont with free shipping on orders of $100+ through their online store.
• Pearl's Place and PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pearl's Place and Pantry to bring Pearl's at the Garage - a southern smokehouse restaurant - inside Village Garage Distillery. Features house-smoked meats, craft cocktails using VGD spirits, and live music on Thursdays. Open 4-9pm Thursday-Monday.
• Sugar Bob's Finest KindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaple syrup producer in Chester, VT who smokes maple syrup over maple wood for use in Village Garage's Bonfire smoked maple bourbon. This collaboration creates the distinctive smoked maple component of the award-winning Bonfire product.
• Putnam's VineyardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal wine bar and hangout spot in downtown White River Junction featuring Village Garage Vodka in their craft cocktail program including French Martini, Espresso Martini, and Dirty Vodka Martini. Features local producers and regional flavors.
• The ArchivesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnovative bar in Burlington featuring vintage arcade games and bespoke cocktails. Features multiple VGD spirits on their menu including 'Another Vodka Drink' and 'Bike Swap' cocktail. Emphasizes fresh ingredients and high-quality spirits.
• Little Seed Coffee RoastersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddlebury-based coffee roaster whose locally roasted beans are used in the Espresso Martini featuring Village Garage Vodka at Putnam's Vineyard.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bulleit Bourbon: Major premium bourbon brand (Diageo) competing in the high-rye bourbon space where Village Bourbon competes. Represents the scaled incumbent against which VGD must differentiate on provenance.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery with a broad portfolio of whiskeys, gin, and specialty spirits. Comparable craft positioning and DTC focus, but with broader SKU range and longer operating history.

Others

• 802Spirits: Vermont statewide spirits distributor carrying Village Garage products across retail locations. Key channel partner whose relationship directly drives VGD's Vermont retail penetration.
• Sugar Bob's Finest Kind: Vermont maple syrup producer (and VGD partner) supplying the smoked maple component for Bonfire bourbon. Ecosystem supplier enabling VGD's signature differentiated SKU.

Direct peers

• Smuggler's Notch Distillers: Vermont craft distillery producing small-batch spirits with an on-site tasting room. Comparable in scale, Vermont terroir positioning, and direct-to-consumer/retail hybrid distribution.
• Mad River Distillers: Vermont craft distillery producing rum, vodka, and whiskey with a local-grain focus. Directly comparable craft spirits portfolio and Vermont heritage positioning.
• Tamworth Distilling: New Hampshire craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and seasonal spirits with an emphasis on historical recipes. Comparable New England craft distillery with tasting room and DTC focus.
• New England Distilling: Massachusetts craft distillery producing rye, bourbon, and gin. Direct regional peer competing in the same New England on-premise and retail channels.
• Caledonia Spirits (Barr Hill): Vermont craft distillery producing Barr Hill gin and vodka with a strong farm-to-bottle story and on-site tasting room. Direct peer on Vermont provenance, gin/vodka lineup, and DTC + tasting room model.
• WhistlePig: Vermont-based craft rye whiskey distillery with a premium on-farm estate and aged whiskey portfolio. Closest direct peer given shared Vermont terroir narrative, rye/bourbon focus, and farm-to-bottle sourcing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ViIIageGarage
• Instagraminstagram.com/villagegaragedistillery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/village-garage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Village Garage