Owen's Era: Blending the past, Distilling the future

EmbellishPod

0:00

-54:48

Owen's Era: Blending the past, Distilling the future

John Hughes

Oct 22, 2025

Owen Martin, Master Distiller at Angels Envy, joins EmbellishPod to discuss the unique challenge of stewarding a bourbon brand through time. From honoring Lincoln Henderson's pioneering legacy of cask finishing to innovating with new grain bills and experimental finishes, Owen reveals what it's like to simultaneously preserve tradition, manage current production, and lay the groundwork for releases that won't see bottles for years to come.

In this candid conversation, we explore Owen's journey from Scottish distilleries to American single malt at Stranahan's, and ultimately to Angels Envy where he's pushing the boundaries of what cask-finished bourbon can be. Learn about the innovative barrel-aged water project, the complexities of sourcing finishing casks from around the world, and how Angels Envy is expanding beyond their classic port-finished bourbon into international markets with unique expressions.

Whether you're a bourbon enthusiast, a whiskey nerd, or simply curious about the craft behind the bottle, this episode offers an insider's look at the art and science of modern bourbon making.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - Meet Owen Martin: The Elevator Pitch
02:21 - From Scotland to Stranahan's: An Unconventional Path
05:02 - Why Angels Envy? The Cask Finishing Connection
08:48 - What is Cask Finishing and Why Does It Matter?
12:07 - Defining "Mature Whiskey" for Finishing
14:31 - Sourcing and Selecting Finishing Casks
16:45 - Keeping Innovation in Check: The ADHD Question
19:05 - Small Scale vs. Large Scale Trials
20:25 - Working Within the Bacardi Portfolio
22:25 - The Barrel-Aged Water Experiment
28:33 - Innovation Grain Bills: Beyond 72-18-10
32:36 - Exploring New Small Grains and Malts
36:07 - The Challenge of the Three Acts
39:03 - Sourced vs. Own Distillate: The Evolution
42:39 - The Blender's Philosophy
45:53 - Owen's Vision: Act Three for Angels Envy
49:23 - Recent Releases: Cask Strength 10 and More
52:44 - Age Statements and Brand Maturity
54:20 - Final Thoughts and Thanks