Man arrested after drinking $1,200 glass of whiskey and not paying

A man has been arrested in Washington DC after allegedly ordering a US$1,200 glass of 34-year-old Teeling Irish single malt whiskey, grilled octopus, a rack of lamb and a $156 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon at the Ritz-Carlton and charging it to a room occupied by a basketball player.

The man, believed to be 21-year-old Nick Cooper from the UK, is thought to have done a runner at other high-end locations in the city.

According to media reports, Cooper was first arrested on 13 March for signing his $68.20 bill at the Willard International using a fake name, while he apparently also tried to pay his $67.91 bill at the Old Ebbit Grill with a “closed credit card”.

According to Newsweek, Cooper was charged with two counts of second-degree theft and released pending a court date in April.

The site also stated that on 23 March, he racked up a bill of $2,220.40 at the Ritz-Carlton, which included the $1,200 glass of Irish whiskey, and charged the amount to the room of Denver Nuggets player Trey Lyles.

Cooper is due to appear in court on 12 April.