Our story so far
One wintery Vermont Christmas Eve a few years ago, Village Garage founders Glen Sauer and Matt Cushman shared their dream of opening a craft distillery in their hometown of Bennington, Vermont.
Glen knew of the perfect spot – the historic “Village Garage” near the four corners of downtown. Originally a tractor dealership that had served the local farm community, in recent decades it had been used to house the town’s old highway equipment. It might have become yet another empty building in the heart of an American town, but Glen and Matt had other ideas…
Years of hard effort later, we're proud of our status as one of Vermont’s most innovative craft distilleries, and a central pillar of the Bennington community. The stars on our label come from the flag the Green Mountain Boys, our forefathers, flew when fighting for our nation's independence. They also represent the sky over the lands our families farmed for over eight generations, right here in Bennington. Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and taste the Spirit of the Green Mountains.
MEet the team
Matt cushman
Co-founder
Born and raised in Bennington, Matt comes from a family whose Vermont story reaches back to the original Vermont Republic. After earning his Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Chicago and working across the country, he returned home to blend craftsmanship, curiosity, and community into Village Garage Distillery. Matt believes great spirits begin with authenticity and a sense of place—values he shares every day as the distillery grows in the heart of historic downtown Bennington.
Glen Sauer
Co-founder
Glen has spent over 35 years in manufacturing management and brings a deep passion for handcrafted products and attention to detail to our enterprise. Committed to upholding our mission of producing exceptional spirits with a local focus, Glen's love for the town of Bennington is reflected in his work at the distillery, and he is dedicated to creating a unique experience that showcases the best of what the region has to offer.
Doug
Goble
Sales/Marketing MANAGER
With over 30 years in broadcasting Doug “Sweet D” Goble is known to everyone as a people person. And now, he’s a bourbon guy. You’ll find him visiting local bars, restaurants & retail locations espousing the virtues of VGD’s small batch craft distilling. You’ll also see him at events both big and small mixing it up with craft spirit enthusiasts. A dog (& cat) dad with the tats to prove it, Doug and his wife Sarah love to break away to enjoy live music or the great VT outdoors every chance they get. You can still hear “Sweet D” occasionally on the legendary airwaves of WEQX.
Todd Pinsonneault
CHIEF distiller
Todd joined Village Garage on the ground floor, working alongside its co-founders to plan a state-of-the-art facility and see Glen and Matt’s shared dream become reality.
Having previously spent a decade in manufacturing, Todd took over distilling operations at Village Garage after completing four years of intensive training under a master distiller. He enjoys the challenge and satisfaction of working with a team that is willing to work hard and take risks in pursuit of a truly special product.
Sava Marinkovic
Associate Distiller
Sava is a trained technical writer, journalist, and former winery cellar manager who has brought his passion for craft beverages to spirits. Fascinated by fermentation in all its forms, Sava spends his free time overseeing his bubbling stores of wine, vinegar, yogurt, kefir, and preserves of many kinds.
An upstate New York native, Sava achieved his M.A. from New York University and worked in the D.C. Metro Area before settling back in on his family’s homestead, where he now lives and toils together with his wife, son, and cows.