Owen Martin

“From Kansas City to Kentucky”

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. His mastery of this process would later make him a natural fit for Angel’s Envy, a brand synonymous with barrel-finished bourbon.

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.

Since taking the helm, Martin has overseen all facets of Angel’s Envy’s production, including its Cask Strength, Cellar Collection, and Founder’s Collection lines. His first major releases included the 2023 Cask Strength Bourbon and the first-ever Cask Strength Rye in the brand’s history. The rye, in particular, was a showcase of Martin’s creativity: a blend of ryes finished in Sauternes wine casks and toasted oak barrels—an unconventional pairing that pushed flavor boundaries while maintaining balance and approachability. “I’m not trying to make the highest-proof whiskey just for bragging rights,” Martin noted in a 2023 interview. “It has to be delicious and accessible.” His emphasis on drinkability—without sacrificing innovation—reflects his engineer’s mindset. Every variable matters, and every choice has consequences.