‘Master Distiller’ selling Pappy online? Buffalo Trace sues to stop fraudulent sales
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sazerac filed suit in federal court to stop impersonation of Harlen Wheatley.
- Fake accounts allegedly sold counterfeit Pappy Van Winkle via social media.
- Sazerac seeks takedown orders, damages and protection of brand trademarks.
Buffalo Trace Distillery’s parent company has filed a lawsuit to stop a scammer claiming to be the distillery’s master distiller in an online account selling fake Pappy Van Winkle.
But Sazerac apparently does not know who the person is.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville on July 16, was filed against John Doe(s) and seeks to stop “deliberate efforts to deceive the general public by falsely claiming to be one of Sazerac’s most well-known and venerated employees, Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.”
According to the filing, someone is using multiple social media profiles pretending to be Wheatley.
“Through this longstanding grift, Defendant falsely offers the public access to unique Sazerac products and experiences, including the opportunity to purchase exclusive, high-end bourbons,” according to the suit.
Sazerac and Buffalo Trace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Louisville lawyer, bourbon writer also a victim
Sazerac said after sending multiple cease-and-desist letters to the accounts, the fake “Wheatley” stopped using photos of the real Wheatley, but instead swapped them with photos of Louisville attorney and bourbon writer Brian Haara, who has no affiliation with the accounts.
Haara has written the Sipp’n Corn blog since 2013, writing about spirits-related law and reviewing bourbon. Haara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fake online accounts identified
The accounts include those under the names @harlen.davis.wheatley and @buffalo.trace.distillery.302723, according to the lawsuit.
The Herald-Leader was not able to find these accounts on social media.
Through the social media accounts, the defendant “has obtained and is selling a conglomeration of counterfeit, stolen, and otherwise unauthorized bourbon whiskey bearing Sazerac’s trademarks,” including Pappy Van Winkle bourbon whiskey, according to the lawsuit. Included in the lawsuit is a screenshot of the account offering an array of bottles saying, “Pappy 10, 12, 15, 20 and 23. Drop a yes if interested and leave a message.”
The Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort makes Pappy Van Winkle whiskeys and has sole licensing and sales rights, according to the lawsuit.
Others on social media also noticed that the accounts are fake, according to the lawsuit, which includes screenshots of posts labeling the account as a scammer.
After Sazerac attempted to stop the fake accounts, the fake Wheatley blocked them, Sazerac said.
“Defendant’s continued and unauthorized marketing, sale, and distribution of Sazerac’s products and further false impersonation of Wheatley have caused, and will continue to cause, confusion in the marketplace, irreparable injury, and material harm to Sazerac’s goodwill and reputation throughout the market,” according to the lawsuit.
Sazerac is seeking to stop the fake Wheatley from selling fake Pappy and asked the court to order the defendant to permanently take down the accounts and assess punitive damages.
Online Blanton’s, Eagle Rare sales warning
This isn’t the first time Buffalo Trace had a problem with sales of fakes online: In 2021, the distillery issued a warning to bourbon fans, telling them not to try to buy its whiskeys online because it was too risky.
The distillery said it had been contacted by disappointed fans who had ordered premium whiskeys online, were charged for transactions and received nothing or got only empty bourbon bottles, which also were counterfeit.
According to the distillery, various brands from Buffalo Trace’s portfolio have been targeted, including Blanton’s and Eagle Rare.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM.
