Vermont distiller American Crafted Spirits is set to start operations at its upcoming $1m distillery at Windsor by December 2012.

The company, which first broke ground on its Windsor facility in January 2012, will initially focus on corn, wheat and rye spirits.

Located in the Windsor Industrial Park near Simon Pearce, Harpoon Brewery and the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Factory, the new 3,000ft² small-batch distillery will house a production facility at the left side, and retail space and tasting room at the left side.

American Crafted Spirits president and CEO Peter Jillson said they are going to start making Silo Vodka first and then expand to produce gin, flavored vodka and brown spirits.

The distillery initially plans to sell the vodka at the facility and throughout Vermont, followed by New Hampshire and Maine before rolling outside of New England.

To produce Silo Vodka, the distillery will use corn, wheat and rye grown by local area farmers.

Jillson said they will probably use 60 tons of corn a year.

"That’s a lot for farmers to produce, and they’ll have to get set up," Jillson added.

Though the price is not finalized, the Silo Vodka is expected to be available between $20-30 per bottle.

Jillson said the red barn-like building that will house American Crafted Spirits is nearing completion and the distilling equipment is expected to be delivered soon.

Vermont Department of Liquor Control licensing investigation supervisor Martin Prevost said when American Crafted Spirits opens, it will be Vermont’s 16th boutique distillery.