Wes Henderson, a bourbon executive and former American whiskey Hall of Fame inductee, has been removed as chief executive of his company after relatives accused him of secretly recording them while they were undressed and engaging in sexual activity.
Henderson, 60, was dismissed from his role at TKC Distilling, the company confirmed in a social media statement Saturday. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, he previously sold Angel’s Envy, the whiskey company he co-founded, to Bacardi in 2015 in a deal reportedly worth $150 million.
He has also temporarily left his job as a deputy coroner in Oldham County, Kentucky. David Pendleton, the county’s advanced coroner, said Henderson is taking an unpaid leave of absence, told WLKY.
The allegations emerged in a lawsuit filed by family members in June. The complaint accuses Henderson of invasion of privacy, voyeurism and possessing or viewing material depicting a sexual performance by a minor, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The lawsuit has since been sealed.
According to the family members’ claims, they were staying at Henderson’s vacation property near Melbourne, Florida, in June 2025 when they discovered 15 concealed cameras. Some of the devices were allegedly capable of transmitting live video.
After returning home, the relatives said they examined the recordings. They allege the footage showed intimate encounters, along with people in various states of undress and using bathrooms.
The lawsuit further alleges that some family members who were underage were recorded while nude.
In all, the relatives claim that 40 people were “identified as being captured [in the video footage] without their knowledge.”
Wes Henderson, 60, has been ousted from his position as CEO at TKC Distilling amid disturbing allegations from family members that he secretly filmed them at his house
The devices were allegedly concealed in ordinary household objects and fixtures, including fire alarms, a mirror, a fan, a clock and a speaker. Others were reportedly placed in a bathroom air vent above the toilet, as well as inside charging blocks and plug-in outlet extenders, the lawsuit says.
Family members said some of the footage appeared to show Henderson positioning cameras toward beds.
The lawsuit alleges that the recordings then showed Henderson “having sex with other women (not his wife).”
The complaint also states that, “upon information and belief,” the cameras recorded other adults having sex. It additionally refers to footage showing what appeared to be a homeless person—possibly a minor and carrying a portable medical device—using a bathroom, according to the Herald-Leader.
A footnote in the filing says: “Some of the videos were from SD cards that captured sex at the Kentucky Castle, which is connected to a business interest of the Defendant Wes Henderson.”
Henderson purchased the Kentucky Castle in Versailles in 2023. The property operates as a wedding and tourism destination with a hotel and restaurant, and he had planned to develop a $92 million distillery nearby for his True Story whiskey brand. Those plans have now been put on hold.
The relatives said they notified other members of the family after discovering the recordings. They also contacted Henderson’s wife, who they claim authorized them to search the couple’s home in Oldham County for additional surveillance devices.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Sam Wood and Wife Snezana Finally Break Their Silence
They allege that 15 more cameras were found inside the Kentucky residence.
The lawsuit claims Henderson’s wife let the family members search their Kentucky home, where they found another 15 hidden cameras
Some of the videos were allegedly from the Kentucky Castle (pictured), which Henderson bought in 2023 with plans to build a $92 million distillery nearby
The filing further alleges that the recordings “showed Wes placing cameras in various third-parties’ homes.”
At one point, he was even allegedly seen wearing a firefighter’s shirt while placing the hidden cameras.
Family members claimed in the lawsuit they contacted local authorities and turned over the cameras and SD card from his Oldham County home and the Florida vacation home.
‘At present, law enforcement continues to maintain possession of the evidence,’ the lawsuit states, according to the Herald-Leader.
But Versailles Police Chief Rob Young told WDRB an official investigation has not been opened, and that the police department is ‘working to determine who the law enforcement is that is reportedly involved.’
Oldham County Police Chief Greg Smith also said his department is not involved in the case.
Henderson’s son, Kyle Henderson, has taken over as CEO at TKC Distilling
Henderson’s attorney has since told the Herald-Leader his client ‘unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit.
‘It is our understanding that the complaint will be voluntarily dismissed,’ the lawyer claimed. ‘If that does not happen, he is prepared to vigorously defend himself.’
Yet, family members claim: ‘After being confronted, and throughout the last 11 months, Wes Henderson has frequently apologized for his actions and requested forgiveness through several text messages to multiple members of his family.’
The family members are seeking punitive damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and are asking a judge to allow a jury trial to move forward.
In the meantime, Henderson’s son, Kyle, will assume the duties of CEO for both Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey as the company’s board said it will conduct a ‘full and independent investigation’ into the allegations.
‘The company remains committed to addressing the matter with responsibility and to ensuring that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and fairly,’ it said.