A significant whiskey heist this summer involved the theft of 12,000 bottles, marking a rare incident in the U.S. liquor industry. The worth of the stolen liquor is estimated at around $1 million.
The Skagit Valley Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating, and enthusiasts are curious if the sought-after Garryana Whiskey, part of Westland Distillery’s first decade collection, might resurface.
The theft occurred on July 31, when an individual presented documents at the Westland Distillery’s Burlington, Washington location, claiming the authority to collect various whiskey shipments, including a Westland single malt destined for New Jersey.
However, the anticipated delivery never arrived, revealing what Jason Moore described as a “sleek, deceptive career scheme” after a week of investigation.
Moore mentioned that the 10th anniversary edition of Garryana is particularly valuable, stating, “This is an unfortunate and rather extraordinary situation.”
Attempts to reach the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office did not yield a response.
Selling stolen whiskey could prove challenging. An expert noted that the rarity of the stolen bottles would make it hard to move them on the market. These types of thefts are more common in Scotland, where trailers full of whiskey have been stolen, often ending up in Russia.
Acquiring 12,000 bottles from the U.S. market is complicated due to their distinctiveness. The alcohol sales system in the country requires distilleries to deal with distributors or wholesalers, making it largely illegal for individuals to resell liquor for profit.
Unlike in Europe, where auction houses facilitate the resale of liquor, the U.S. regulations complicate matters significantly.
Moore highlighted the significance of Garryana, particularly it being the first 10-year-old whiskey, emphasizing the dedication required from craft distilleries to reach such an age statement.
Westland specializes in single malt whiskey, produced from locally sourced barley, peat from the Olympic Peninsula, and particular yeast strains to emphasize regional flavors. This uniqueness is partly due to the aging process in barrels crafted from Kerux-Galiana oak, native to the Pacific Northwest.
The limited-edition releases of this whiskey are highly sought after, with the 2023 edition having been recognized as the third-best whiskey globally by Whiskey Advocate Magazine. As Gillespie noted, every year, these bottles sell out rapidly, with 3,000 of this year’s 7,500 already gone.
In response to the theft, Moore stated that the company is enhancing its supply chain security while concentrating on customer service. He expressed excitement about sharing their whiskey with loyal supporters despite the unfortunate event impacting their inventory.
While a loss of $1 million in stock could be detrimental to many distilleries, Westland, now part of the Paris-based Remy Cointreau Group since 2016, has the backing to withstand such setbacks. Gillespie shared a light-hearted warning: “If anyone offers you a case of Westland whiskey now, you might want to call the authorities.”
