BURLINGTON, Wash. — Thieves made off with 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey valued at nearly $1 million from Westland Distillery in a high-stakes heist that has stunned the U.S. spirits industry.
The whiskey, including Westland’s prized 10-year Garryana release, vanished on July 31 after a freight truck showed up with fraudulent paperwork. The shipment was bound for New Jersey but never arrived.
“This is an extraordinary situation,” said Jason Moore, managing director of the Seattle-based distillery. “These bottles represent over a decade of work.”
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what Moore described as a “sophisticated, fraudulent carrier scheme.” No suspects have been identified.
Whiskey experts say the rarity of the Garryana bottles makes them nearly impossible to resell without raising red flags.
“It’s going to be really hard to move this on the market,” said Mark Gillespie, host of the WhiskyCast podcast. “Everyone in the industry knows these bottles.”
10-year Garryana
Westland’s 10-year Garryana is a milestone for American craft distilling. It’s the distillery’s first decade-aged single malt, matured in casks made from Pacific Northwest oak trees.
Only 7,500 bottles were produced in 2023. Now, 3,000 are gone.
The whiskey was named the world’s third-best by Whisky Advocate this year. With half the supply missing, the price on the secondary market is expected to surge.
But reselling stolen liquor in the U.S. is tough. Federal law requires a strict three-tier system—distilleries must sell to distributors, who then sell to retailers and bars. Secondary sales are largely illegal.
“If someone offers you a case of Westland right now, call the cops,” Gillespie said.
Founded in 2010 by Matt Hofmann and Emerson Lamb, Westland set out to create a distinctly American Single Malt. They use local barley, regional peat, and Garryana oak to reflect the terroir of the Pacific Northwest.
Moving forward
In 2017, Westland was acquired by French spirits giant Rémy Cointreau. The company achieved B Corp certification in 2024 for its commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
Despite the loss, Moore said the distillery is moving forward. “This is a setback, but we’re focused on serving our customers and sharing what we make.”
Westland has earned numerous accolades, including World Craft Producer of the Year in 2016 and American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year in 2019.
The missing whiskey remains at large. Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious offers or sales.
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Ten years of experience reporting. From car chases and courtroom verdicts to House fires, Holsford thrives during breaking news and finds it a privilege to help drive the conversation in Rockland County and the Greater New York Area. Born in San Bernardino, Thomas is a New York boy at heart. He received his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, specializing in political science and sociology, from the University of Illinois
