Angel’s Envy Hasn’t Had a Master Distiller in Nearly a Decade — Until Now

Owen Martin has left Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey to become the first Angel’s Envy master distiller since 2013. (Photo: Angel’s Envy)

Louisville, Kentucky-based whiskey distilling company Angel’s Envy on Monday announced the hiring of Owen Martin as master distiller.

This marks a significant moment for Angel’s Envy, as the distillery has not named a master distiller since its previous one — co-founder Lincoln Henderson — died in 2013.

Starting Oct. 17, Martin will take over all aspects of production and oversee innovation for Angel’s Envy, including its annual Cask Strength program and limited release Cellar Collection and Founder’s Collection programs.

“Angel’s Envy has always strived to revere tradition while embracing progress, so when looking for our new Master Distiller, we knew we needed to find someone who fully embodied that philosophy and innovative spirit,” Gigi DaDan, general manager of Angel’s Envy, said in a news release. “Owen’s experience in product development and experimentation and his progressive outlook regarding what’s next for the industry, as well as the leadership he has demonstrated throughout his career in defining and championing American whiskey categories, make him a perfect fit to lead Angel’s Envy into our exciting future.”

Owen worked as lead distiller at Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock, Arkansas, between 2014 and 2016. From 2016 until this month, he worked for Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, a brand whose whiskeys have performed quite well in our reviews.

In his latter three years with Stranahan’s, Owen served as the brand’s head distiller.

“Angel’s Envy has been a trailblazer in redefining the finished whiskey category in the US, and the chance to be a part of the next chapter for a young brand that has already made such a large impact on the industry is truly the opportunity of a lifetime,” Martin said. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge of secondary cask finishing and unique perspective of European and American production techniques, as well as my expertise in product development and passion for experimentation, to the foremost secondary-finished bourbon and rye producer in the country.”

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