Thieves Target Prized Whiskey in $1M Heist

Nearly $1 million worth of whiskey has vanished in what appears to be a rare large-scale liquor theft in Washington state.

Westland Distillery confirmed that 12,000 bottles, including its prized Garryana 10th anniversary release, were stolen from its Burlington warehouse in late July.

The theft had been kept quiet. But a recent report from a freight carrier to a local sheriff’s department caught the attention of the Seattle Times. The theft was confirmed earlier this week.

Westland disclosed that on July 31, a freight truck driver presented authentic-looking paperwork authorizing a pickup bound for New Jersey. The shipment was loaded but never arrived.

Company officials believe fraudulent documents were used to obtain clearance through a contracted broker. Among the stolen stock were Westland’s flagship single malt, a new release called Watchpost, and 3,000 bottles of Garryana — a limited-edition whiskey retailing for $150 but often commanding higher resale prices.

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