Principal cleared of rare Bourbon heist

A school principal named by police as a “person of interest” in their investigations into a rare Bourbon theft has been cleared of any wrong-doing.

Over US$26,000 of rare Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon was lifted from the Buffalo Trace distillery last month

Chris Pickett, the principal of Bardstown High School, Kentucky, was identified by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office as an individual they were interested in talking to in connection with the theft of US$26,000 of rare Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon from the Buffalo Trace distillery.

Pickett was initially brought to police attention by workers at a local liquor store who alleged that he had tried to sell a “large quantity” of Pappy Van Winkle shortly after the heist.

Lawyers for Pickett claimed that he was merely enquiring about the store’s supply of Pappy Van Winkle as he wanted to increase his current collection.

Buffalo Trace initially believed the 65 case theft to be an “inside job” by someone close to the distillery.

No arrests have so-far been made in the case though local press reports that more than 100 people have been interviewed in the case.