Seattle craft whiskey distillery hit by US$1m daylight theft
A daring heist has struck a Seattle-area craft distillery, with thieves making off with US$1 million worth of rare whiskey. The audacious theft involved false paperwork and a truckload of prized bottles, including the limited-edition Garryana 10-year-old.
The thieves turned up at Westland Distillery in Washington State in a large truck armed with false documentation, which made out that they were authorised to collect 12,000 bottles of various whiskeys, including Westland’s renowned single malt and the limited-edition 10-year-old Garryana, destined for New Jersey.
Challenges for thieves to resell rare whiskey
Jason Moore, the managing director of Westland, which is ultimately owned by Remy Cointreau, said the theft went undiscovered for about a week but that the thieves may find it difficult to sell on some of the whiskies.
That is especially true of the Garryana, which is rare and a prized bottle among enthusiasts because it is reputed to be the first 10-year-old whiskey to be created in the craft distilling boom and is available only through limited releases.
Unique production methods make Garryana valuable
“This is an unfortunate and pretty extraordinary situation,” said Moore, highlighting the years of effort invested in developing this 10-year-old anniversary edition of the distinctive whiskey matured in local oak and which therefore reflects the unique terroir of America’s Pacific Northwest.
Partner Content
Westland’s singular production methods include using only locally sourced grains and peat plus specific yeast strains, which give its spirits their distinctive characteristics.
Regulatory hurdles complicate resale
America’s stringent three-tier system for alcohol sales requires distillers to sell to distributors or wholesalers, who must then supply retailers. Many states operate a publicly-run purchasing and retail monopoly. New Jersey, however, is not one of them.
Even so, trying to pass on the stolen whiskey through the secondary market could put the perpetrators at risk of detection.
Soaring demand fuels secondary market risk
That said, Garryana sells out each year, and with 3,000 of the current year’s 7,500-bottle release already sold, demand in the secondary market is likely to escalate because of the theft.
The sixth edition of the 50% Garryana is currently listed by some UK stockists at up to £160 per 70cl bottle.
Related news
Irish Whiskey Association unveils new trail showcasing Ireland’s distilling heritage
Scotch, whiskey and vodka prices set to rise as US Trump tariffs bite
Historic Derry distillery with links to Tyrconnell whiskey up for sale
