Owen Martin

“From Kansas City to Kentucky via Denver”

In the world of American whiskey, tradition often reigns supreme, but occasionally, a new voice steps in, bringing with it the weight of expertise, the curiosity of a scientist, and the spirit of innovation. Such is the case with Owen Martin, the Master Distiller at Angel’s Envy, who in 2022 became the first person to officially hold that title at the Louisville-based distillery since the passing of its legendary co-founder, Lincoln Henderson.

Martin’s path to this prestigious role was anything but typical. Born in 1990 and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Martin was not descended from bourbon royalty, nor did he grow up surrounded by stills and rickhouses. But he did inherit a different kind of legacy: one of precision, process, and problem-solving. After graduating from high school, Martin pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas. It was during his college years that he began home-brewing, an experimental hobby that quickly turned into a passion. The process fascinated him: the interplay of raw ingredients, time, temperature, and technique. As he brewed, he began to think more seriously about how he could turn his curiosity into a career.

That question led him overseas, to the heart of whisky lineage, in Edinburgh, Scotland. There, Martin enrolled at Heriot-Watt University, one of the few places in the world offering an advanced degree in Brewing and Distilling Science. He soon earned his Master of Science, surrounded by centuries-old distilling traditions combined with cutting-edge technology. The experience sharpened his technical knowledge and gave him a deep respect for the global history of spirits.

After graduation, Martin returned to the US and began his professional career in a small distillery in Arkansas, where he wore many hats, learning the gritty realities of craft production. It was there that he and his wife, Claire, started their life together (now the couple shares a daughter who is nearly two). In time, Martin joined Stranahan’s Whiskey and relocated to Colorado. Over six years in the Rocky Mountains, he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Head Distiller. And it was at Stranahan’s that Martin began to explore the art of barrel finishing, a hallmark technique where spirits are transferred to different types of barrels for secondary maturation, adding complexity and nuance to the final product.

Martin’s Stranahan’s tenure is inseparable from Snowflake, the distillery’s once-a-year, line-around-the-block release. Each Snowflake is a blend of mature Stranahan’s single-malt components finished in a variety of casks—wine, Cognac, maple syrup, rum, and more—married for a profile that is both unmistakably Stranahan’s and thrillingly singular. In 2019, he built “Mount Bross,” then the oldest Snowflake to date, around an exceptional eight-year single barrel and layered in younger, cask-finished lots for balance and complexity. Fans camped out in tents in December Denver's cold, to buy it—more for the community and ritual than the resale value.

Elevation shaped the story, too. Stranahan’s sits a mile high, where dry air and temperature swings can accelerate the push-and-pull between spirit and oak. Martin embraced that setting rather than fighting it, leaning into barrel management to coax depth without over-oaking. Local inputs mattered: Colorado barley and water gave the whiskey its sense of place, while Denver’s beer culture meant he was “the distiller in a beer town,” a craftsman among brewers who respected process and flavor.

If Snowflake was the annual fireworks show, the day-to-day craft was quieter but no less demanding: early mornings on the brewhouse, vigilant cuts on the stills, dogged record-keeping on barrels, and endless tasting. Media profiles captured him at 6 a.m., already working mash and tracking fermentations—reminders that head distillers carry wrenches as often as tasting glasses. That grind anchored the creativity; repeatable excellence gave him permission to take calculated risks when a special cask or blend idea emerged.

When Martin was announced as Master Distiller at Angel’s Envy in September 2022, the move was greeted with enthusiasm across the industry. He was stepping into big shoes. The brand had been co-founded by whiskey legend Lincoln Henderson in 2010. Henderson was a former Brown-Forman megastar who helped create Woodford Reserve. After Lincoln’s unexpected death in 2013, his son Wes continued to guide the brand, but Angel’s Envy had left the title of “Master Distiller” unclaimed until Martin’s appointment.

Despite being relatively early in his tenure, Martin is clearly carving out a distinct chapter for Angel’s Envy. He brings a blend of international education, small-batch experience, and technical mastery that positions him as one of the most forward-thinking distillers of his generation. Yet, even as he drives the brand forward, Martin honors the foundational ethos of Angel’s Envy: that bourbon is a canvas, and finishing is the art. In many ways, Owen Martin’s career mirrors the spirit he crafts. Start with strong fundamentals, introduce something unexpected, and finish with smooth finesse.

Sources:

PR Newswire, “Angel’s Envy Names Owen Martin Master Distiller”, September 12, 2022
The Spirits Business, “Angel’s Envy names Master Distiller”, September 2022
Food & Wine, “Angel’s Envy Triple Oak Bourbon Launch 2024”, Karla Alindahao, September 15, 2024
Sotheby’s, “…Martin Crafted a World-First Bourbon”, Forrest C. Price, July 26, 2024
88 Bamboo, “Interview with Owen Martin”, 88bamboo.com, September 25, 2024
Angel’s Envy Website, www.angelsenvy.com
PR Newswire, “Angel’s Envy Releases First-Ever Cask Strength Rye”, October 25, 2023

8. Radaris, radaris.com

Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee