Rare Bourbon or Apple Juice? Police Say Online Scammer Defrauded Whiskey Collectors Out of $86,000

A collection of bottles of whiskies and Kentucky bourbons are displayed at “Seven Grand,” a whiskey bar downtown Los Angeles, March 4, 2023. Seven Grand offers an extensive selection of over 700 different whiskies from around the world, including rare and hard-to-find bottles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A Kentucky man is accused of running a bourbon scam that left collectors across multiple states opening packages of what they thought were valuable bottles of whiskey only to find water and apple juice inside.

According to 14 News, investigators say 40-year-old James Willetts of Madisonville, Kentucky, sold purportedly allocated and collectible bourbons through Facebook groups before shipping customers packages that did not contain the bottles they purchased.

The alleged scheme unraveled after a UPS investigator contacted the Madisonville Police Department about what authorities described as a possible theft-by-deception operation involving multiple people.

Police say customers who purchased rare bourbons began filing complaints after receiving packages containing items such as water bottles and bottles of apple juice instead of the whiskey they had paid for.

Investigators allege Willetts used the Madisonville UPS location to ship the packages and was able to provide customers with legitimate tracking numbers and shipping receipts, making the transactions appear authentic.

According to the police report cited by 14 News, one suspicious incident occurred on Jan. 15, when Willetts allegedly shipped multiple empty boxes to a customer in Oklahoma. Investigators said the shipment cost $918. A UPS employee reportedly questioned why he was sending 15 empty boxes and was told they were part of a prank.

Authorities say the complaints continued to mount as more customers reported receiving packages that did not contain the bourbon they purchased.

So far, investigators have identified four victims. Police say the transactions involved approximately 97 collectible items that were advertised and sold.

The estimated value of the alleged thefts totals about $86,140.

Willetts was arrested Wednesday night and booked into the Hopkins County Detention Center. He is charged with theft by deception involving $10,000 or more.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first scam of its kind. In 2021, Buffalo Trace — the maker of incredibly rare and popular bourbons such as the Van Winkle line, Blanton’s and Eagle Rare — issued a series of tips to its fans to help them identify bourbon scams. In 2025, Sazerac — Buffalo Trace’s parent company — filed a complaint against a person or multiple persons impersonating Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley on social media. These social media channels were purporting to sell rare Buffalo Trace whiskeys. Sazerac described the scheme as a “longstanding grift.”