Politics · Brazil · 12 hrs ago
Messages say banker sought rare whisky worth about R$500,000 for Lula
Banker Daniel Vorcaro asked an associate to find rare whisky for Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The request appeared in messages found on Vorcaro’s phone, which was seized by Brazil’s Federal Police.
The Macallan 1945 bottle was valued at about R$500,000 in October 2024, according to the messages.
Vorcaro wrote that he needed the bottle for Lula, and his associate sent a photo and quoted a price above €80,000.
A later message says Lula thanked Vorcaro for the whisky, but it does not establish when or how the bottle was delivered.
Records show Vorcaro visited the presidential palace at least four times in 2023 and 2024, including once in December 2024; they do not say whom he met.
The messages raise questions about a costly gift to the president, while providing no details about its delivery or circumstances.
Messages found on banker Daniel Vorcaro’s phone show he sought a rare Macallan 1945 whisky to give to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The bottle was valued at about R$500,000 at the time, according to the messages and the report.
In October 2024, Vorcaro asked an associate to find the whisky and said it was for Lula.
A message from Vorcaro’s lawyer in January 2025 said Lula had thanked him again for the whisky.
The messages do not establish when the bottle was delivered or the circumstances of its delivery.
- Who
- Daniel Vorcaro sought the whisky for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- What
- Vorcaro asked an associate to find a rare Macallan 1945 whisky, valued at about R$500,000.
- When
- The request was made in October 2024. A lawyer’s message reporting Lula’s thanks was sent in January 2025.
- Where
- The request referred to a shop in London. The place where the bottle was delivered is not stated.
- Why
- Vorcaro said he needed to give the whisky to Lula. The reason for the gift is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Vorcaro asked Leandro Serrano Giunchetti to find a Macallan 1945 bottle and said it was for Lula.
Vorcaro’s lawyer Walfrido Warde messaged that Lula had asked about Vorcaro and thanked him again for the whisky.
- Bottle
- Macallan 1945
- Estimated value
- About R$500,000
- Request date
- 29 October 2024
- Intended recipient
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Price cited in messages
- €80,000 or more
3 sources
What people are saying
Preciso dar pro Lula
Estive com PR hoje. Ele me perguntou se você estava bem e mais tranquilo. Eu lhe disse que sim. Ele me agradeceu mais uma vez o whisky e mandou um abraço