BURLINGTON, Wash. — A significant theft occurred this summer at Westland Distillery, where thieves stole 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey valued at nearly $1 million. This heist represents a substantial loss for the distillery, as it accounts for nearly half of their stock of single malt whiskey, which took over a decade to produce. The Skagit Valley Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident, and whiskey enthusiasts are left wondering about the fate of the prized bottles of Westland's first 10-year Garryana whiskey.

The theft took place on July 31 when an individual arrived at the distillery's warehouse in a freight truck. They presented paperwork that falsely indicated they were authorized to collect a shipment of Westland single malt, Watchpost blended, and Garryana whiskies destined for New Jersey. However, the shipment never reached its intended location, and the fraudulent scheme was uncovered a week later, according to Jason Moore, managing director of the Seattle-based distillery. Moore described the situation as "unfortunate and pretty extraordinary."

Experts believe selling the stolen whiskey will be challenging. Mark Gillespie, host of the WhiskyCast podcast, noted, "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." He compared this incident to similar thefts in Scotland, where stolen whiskey often ends up in Russia. However, the unique nature of the Garryana whiskey makes it particularly difficult to sell, especially within the U.S. due to the country's three-tier alcohol distribution system.

In the U.S., distilleries must sell their products to distributors or wholesalers, who then sell to retailers and bars. Selling alcohol on the secondary market is generally illegal, unlike in many European countries where auction houses facilitate such sales. Gillespie emphasized the significance of the Garryana whiskey, stating, "The providence of the Garryana is important because it's their first 10-year-old whiskey. For a craft distillery to be able to release a 10-year-old is an accomplishment."

Westland Distillery specializes in single-malt whiskeys, which are made from barley and resemble Scotch whiskey. Moore explained that the distillery aims to capture the essence of the Pacific Northwest in each bottle, using locally sourced grains and unique ingredients. The Garryana whiskey is particularly special as it is aged in casks made from the Quercus garryana oak tree, native to the region. The limited-edition whiskey has received numerous accolades, including being named the third best whiskey in the world by Whisky Advocate magazine in 2023.

Despite the setback, Moore stated that the company is focused on serving its customers and has implemented additional measures to protect its supply chain. He expressed confidence in the distillery's ability to recover, saying, "What happens from there is outside of our control, and we get excited about sharing our whiskey and engaging with the supporters we have."

While losing $1 million in stock could be detrimental to many distilleries, Gillespie believes Westland will endure, especially since it was acquired by the Paris-based Remy Cointreau Group in 2016. He advised consumers to remain cautious, stating, "If somebody tries to offer you a case of Westland whiskey right now, I'd call the cops."