Family Business Turns To Family Feud At Angel’s Envy

By Richard Thomas

In an upcoming Father’s Day interview with Wes Henderson, co-founder of Angel’s Envy, and his son Kyle, I pointed out the internecine difficulties that often attend family businesses and asked about the secrets of their company’s success. Perhaps I spoke too soon, as Henderson’s mother has filed a lawsuit against him over the proceeds of the recent acquisition of Angel’s Envy by Bacardi.

Cecilia Henderson, widow of the late Bourbon Hall of Famer Lincoln Henderson, filed suit against her son Wes in Jefferson County, Kentucky on Monday. Mrs. Henderson, aged 71, claims that she has not received the funds received for Lincoln Henderson’s stake in the company, and that she is entitled to them under the terms of Lincoln Henderson’s will.

At the heart of the dispute is a promise allegedly made by the father to the son that the profits from both their shares from any sale should go to Wes Henderson. This is contradicted by Lincoln’s will, made two weeks before his death and naming Cecilia as sole beneficiary.

Both how much of Spirited Holdings LLC (Angel’s Envy) Lincoln and Wes Henderson owned and what Barcardi paid for the company are not known.