Bourbon legend Lincoln Henderson dies

Lincoln Henderson, master distiller of Angel’s Envy Bourbon, has passed away at the age of 75 at his home in Kentucky.

An inaugural member of the Kentucky Hall of Fame, Henderson made his name in the Bourbon industry as master distiller at Brown-Forman, developing the Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel products.

After 40 years with Brown-Forman, Henderson came out of retirement to create the Angel’s Envy Bourbon in 2006.

“I lost my dad and best friend today, but I am blessed and grateful that together we created a brand that we’re both incredibly proud of,” said Wes Henderson, chief operating officer of Angel’s Envy. “Dad is with the angels now, but we will proudly carry on his legacy and keep his memory alive.”

That legacy will be carried on into a new US$12 million distillery dedicated to producing Angel’s Envy, which Louisville Distilling Company, producer of the Bourbon, intends to open in Louisville in December 2014.

Phil Lynch, vice president and director of corporate communications at Brown-Forman, said: “Lincoln was a titan of the Kentucky Bourbon industry, having tasted more than 430,000 barrels of Brown-Forman’s Bourbons to determine when the whiskey was ready to be bottled. Lincoln was a true gentleman who was great to work with — and to share a drink with.”

Henderson passed away at home last night “surrounded by family, laughter and tears”.