Spend a few minutes with Fred as he looks back on his experience covering the Pappy Van Winkle Heist from 2013-2016, or as it was known at the time, “PappyGate.”

Fred explains that it was the first time he had any doubts about the honesty and character of the bourbon industry. Of course, it turned out to be criminals, not bourbon lovers, who stole the bourbon. Fred recalls attending the press conference and being surrounded by bottles and containers of rare bourbon — including Eagle Rare and even Pappy Van Winkle in moonshine jars.

If you want to learn more about the story, check out the crime documentary on Netflix, titled “Heist.”