In brief
In an extraordinary liquor heist, thieves absconded with 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey worth nearly $1 million from Westland Distillery in Burlington, Washington. The incident has left both the distillery and the whiskey community baffled, raising concerns over the stolen bottles' marketability and the challenge of the distillery's recovery from this loss. The heist occurred when impostors used fraudulent paperwork to release the shipment bound for New Jersey. Whiskey experts underscore the rarity and provenance of the Garryana whiskey, foreseeing great difficulty for the criminals in selling the stolen goods.
In a stunning summer heist, thieves made off with 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey from Westland Distillery in Burlington, Washington, leaving behind a trail of disbelief and disappointment in the whiskey community. Valued at nearly $1 million, the stolen liquor included a significant portion of Westland's first 10-year Garryana whiskey, a labor of love for the distillers who spent a decade perfecting its production.
The incident, which transpired on July 31, involved a freight truck that pulled up at the distillery, presenting fraudulent paperwork that supposedly authorized the pickup of the shipment destined for New Jersey. A week later, the heist was revealed, as the shipment never reached its intended location.
Jason Moore, managing director of Westland, expressed his dismay, stating, This is an unfortunate and pretty extraordinary situation. The rarity of the Garryana whiskey, which is aged in casks made from locally sourced Quercus garryana oak, highlights the tragedy of this theft. Whiskey expert Mark Gillespie, host of the WhiskyCast podcast, noted the challenges the thieves would face in selling such easily recognizable bottles in a market that closely monitors for unusual offers.
It's going to be really hard for whoever took this to actually get this onto the market, because what they took was so rare that everybody knows about it, Gillespie remarked, explaining how whiskey thieves typically target large shipments but that these stolen goods are bound to attract attention.
The Garryana, which won accolades including the third-best whiskey in the world according to Whisky Advocate magazine, had already begun selling out ahead of the heist, further complicating the aftermath of the crime. Moore stated that while Westland is focusing on servicing its loyal customers during this trying time, they have implemented steps to reinforce their supply chain against future threats.
The industry views this event with concern, especially given the potential damage such financial losses could inflict on a smaller distillery. Fortunately, Westland was acquired by the Paris-based Remy Cointreau Group in 2016, which should help it weather the storm of this unfortunate incident. In the meantime, experts advise against purchasing any suspicious offers of Westland whiskey, with Gillespie cautioning, If somebody tries to offer you a case of Westland whiskey right now, I’d call the cops.
