A significant heist occurred in July when thieves stole 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey, valued at nearly $1 million, from Westland Distillery in Burlington, Washington. This theft has not only resulted in considerable financial loss but also impacted the availability of the distillery's inaugural 10-year Garryana whiskey, a product they have been developing for over a decade.
The incident took place on July 31, when a freight truck arrived at Westland Distillery, presenting what appeared to be legitimate paperwork for the collection of a shipment intended for New Jersey. However, the shipment, which comprised various types of whiskey including Westland single malt, Watchpost blended, and Garryana, never reached its destination. The fraud was uncovered about a week later. Jason Moore, the managing director of Westland Distillery, described the scheme as "sophisticated" and expressed the unique value of the 10-year anniversary edition bottles, indicating they are irreplaceable.
Whiskey connoisseurs are now pondering the future of the stolen Garryana bottles. Mark Gillespie, host of the WhiskyCast podcast, noted the challenges facing the thieves in selling such distinctive and rare products. Due to the distinctive nature of the whiskey, it may be tough to sell them in the U.S. because of the country's three-tier system for alcohol sales, which mandates that distilleries sell their products to distributors, who then sell them to retailers and bars. Gillespie also pointed out that while there are avenues for selling whiskey on the secondary market in Europe, it is often illegal in the United States.
The age statement of the Garryana whiskey adds to its significance. Aging whiskies is viewed as a significant achievement for craft distilleries, especially when producing a product that is at least ten years old. Moore emphasized that Westland has focused on integrating the specific character and flavors of the Pacific Northwest into their products. This includes using locally sourced ingredients, such as grains and peat from the Olympic Peninsula, and aging the whiskey in barrels made from the region's unique Quercus garryana oak trees.
The Garryana whiskey has garnered significant acclaim, including being named the third-best whiskey in the world by Whisky Advocate magazine. With 3,000 out of the total 7,500 bottles from this year's release already sold, its rarity has further driven up the potential resale price on the market. In light of the incident, Westland Distillery has implemented additional measures to protect its supply chain while refocusing their efforts on customer engagement and support.
Despite the $1 million loss, experts like Gillespie believe that Westland will survive financially due to its acquisition by the Paris-based Remy Cointreau Group in 2016. He advised consumers to avoid any opportunity to purchase suspiciously available Westland whiskey, suggesting that anyone approached to buy a case should contact law enforcement.
