The history of whiskey seems to be ancient in origin, but there are modern, fascinating stories about it as well. One that immediately comes to mind takes place in Kentucky, the heartland of American bourbon. The Buffalo Trace Whiskey Heist.
In October 2013, an estimated $100,000 worth of aged Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon went missing from the Buffalo Trace distillery in Tennessee.
One suspect in the case was Buffalo Trace employee Gilbert “Toby” Curtsinger, who police collared after an anonymous tip said he had barrels of stolen bourbon in his backyard.
$100,000 is just the tip of the iceberg because the theft lasted over a seven year period. Some sources claim that the total amount of misappropriated assets from the Pappygate theft are well over half of a million dollars because of the amount of time Curtsinger and his crew spent funnelling bourbon away from the distillery.
The Bourbon Heist at Buffalo Trace Distillery captured the imagination of whiskey enthusiasts worldwide, and has become the stuff of legend among collectors and connoisseurs.