Thieves steal 1M worth in craft whiskey from Washington distillery

An investigation is underway after thieves stole 12,000 bottles of Westland Distillery’s 10-year Garryana whiskey, worth nearly $1 million, from a Burlington warehouse on July 31. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspects arrived in a freight truck with fraudulent paperwork claiming to pick up a shipment destined for New Jersey. The whiskey, made from locally sourced grains and aged in Quercus garryana oak casks, is a limited-edition product that regularly garners awards. The 2023 edition was recognized as the third best whiskey in the world by Whisky Advocate magazine, underscoring its value. Westland Distillery is now taking additional steps to protect its supply chain while prioritizing customer service over the investigation.

The distillery features a unique production process that emphasizes regional flavors, making the stolen bottles irreplaceable. This incident highlights the vulnerability of high-value products in the craft beverage industry, raising concerns about security measures. Local authorities are urging businesses to remain vigilant against similar thefts in the future.