Wes Henderson co-founded Angel’s Envy along with his late father Lincoln almost 15 years ago in 2010, and that brand and distillery has gone on to become an icon in the Kentucky whiskey industry. The Bourbon Hall of Famer retired in 2022, but just when he thought he was out, whiskey pulled him back in. Henderson’s new brand is called True Story, and it launches today with the release of a bourbon and a rye.
Henderson created the company Saga Spirits Group in 2023 to create “exceptional American whiskey products and… a comprehensive visitor experience,” according to a press release. It was recently announced that the company would a new distillery in Versailles, which is located in Woodford County, although it’ll be come time before that comes to fruition. In the meantime, the company’s first whiskey brand is called True Story, and Henderson’s large brood of six sons are joining him in this endeavor. “Our family’s roots are deeply intertwined with the rich heritage of Kentucky and whiskey,” he said in a statement. “We founded True Story to create a space where people can ‘pull up a chair,’ share a drink, and connect over stories. Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey drinker or new to the experience, we believe every bottle holds a unique story waiting to be told.”
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Two distinct whiskeys are being released to anchor the brand-new portfolio. The first is True Story Finished Bourbon, which is aged for five to six years in new charred oak barrels and then finished in white Moscatel wine casks for another six months before being bottled at 90 proof. If that kind of sounds familiar, that’s because Angel’s Envy is a whiskey brand that is literally built upon cask finishes, something that Henderson apparently just couldn’t leave behind. The palate is said to have “white exotic fruits and florals that create a complementary sweetness to the whiskey.”
The second release is True Story Finished Rye, aged for five to eight years in new charred oak and then finished for two to 12 months in a combination of casks: PX and Oloroso sherry, and Brazilian amburana wood. If you’re like me, that second barrel type might give you pause, because in this writer’s opinion nearly everything that touches amburana tastes like chewing on cinnamon potpourri. However, I have not had the chance to taste the whiskey yet, so let’s not assume that is the case. Official tasting notes for this 100-proof whiskey sound much better, with a mix of spice, raisin, and dried fruit on the palate.
The source of both whiskeys is not disclosed, but a rep for the brand did reveal some information. The bourbon comes from three Kentucky distilleries, while the rye is a blend of straight rye whiskeys from Kentucky and Indiana made from two different mashbills (likely MGP). And we reached out to Kyle Henderson, True Story’s director of operations, to ask about the cask finishing throughline. “The family pioneered the finished American whiskey category with Angel’s Envy, and the initial True Story products are our way of building upon that craft and legacy,” he said. “That is not to say everything we release will be finished, or even American whiskey necessarily, but we wanted to showcase more of the finishing techniques that we developed over the last 60 years to start.”
Both expressions will be available starting October 10, the bourbon at $60 per bottle and the rye at $70, and you can purchase them from the True Story website or retailers in Kentucky and Tennessee.
