Founded in 2010, Angel’s Envy is the culmination of the life’s work of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, a leading figure in the distilling industry. In March 2015, Bacardi acquired Louisville Distilling Company and became the sole owner of Angel’s Envy. Today, the Henderson family has no involvement in Angel’s Envy.

Nearly all Angel’s Envy operations are run out of their full production whiskey distillery and visitor center at 500 East Main Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The spirits industry uses “the angel’s share” as a colloquial term for the liquid that evaporates during the distilling process. Due to temperature, humidity, and liquid-to-wood contact, a barrel can lose up to 5% of its content during the aging process. After tasting his whiskey, our founder, Lincoln Henderson, joked that we had finally struck a better deal than the angels. From that point forward, Lincoln Henderson’s bourbon would be known as “Angel’s Envy”.

Angel’s Envy was created and founded by Bourbon Hall of Fame member and Master Distiller, Lincoln Henderson. Lincoln created the brand years before the distillery’s restoration project and tragically passed before the facility opened its doors.

During nearly 40 years at Brown-Forman, our founder, Lincoln Henderson, co-created many notable brands, including Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack. However, Angel’s Envy was his only independent project.

When approached with the opportunity, Lincoln was drawn to the idea of returning to genuine small-batch, hand crafted bourbon. Being independent from the larger distilleries allowed Angel’s Envy founder, Lincoln Henderson to pursue his ambitious creativity, which is how Angel’s Envy got its distinctive award-winning port finish. It was his masterpiece.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon 2013 was the final project from Angel’s Envy founder, Lincoln Henderson. Now a highly coveted bottle, the chocolate-and-fruit forward pour was dubbed “the best spirit in the world” by highly-esteemed American spirits author, Paul Pacult.

Yes. The Master Distiller of Angel’s Envy is Owen Martin, who was appointed in 2022.

Owen Martin earned a Master of Science in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. He joined Angel’s Envy after six years at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, where he most recently served as head distiller. At Angel’s Envy, he leads whiskey production and oversees product innovation, including the Cask Strength collection and the Distillery Series. In 2026, Martin was named Craft Distiller of the Year at the Icons of Whisky America awards.