Updated October 3, 2026, 6:22 p.m. ET
This story has been updated to include new information and clarifies that Henderson’s attorney has not been publicly named.
The parent company of The Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey fired its CEO Wes Henderson on October 3, after details of a sealed lawsuit were revealed.
In the lawsuit, filed in June in Oldham County and obtained by The Courier Journal, members of Henderson’s family accuse him of secretly filming guests and family members at the Kentucky Castle and other locations in “various stages of undress,” sometimes participating in sexual acts. The allegations are based on footage found on the SD cards of numerous hidden cameras.
“The cameras also captured the defendant, Wes Henderson, having sex with other women (not his wife),” the suit alleges. “Based on information and belief, the cameras captured other adults having sex, as well as footage of what appeared to be a homeless man, potentially a minor, carrying a portable medical device and using the restroom.”
In a statement released by the board and management of parent company TKC Distilling, top officials say Henderson’s termination is “effective immediately” as a result of the allegations in the lawsuit.
Kyle Henderson, the eldest of Wes Henderson’s six sons, will take on the role while the board conducts a “full and independent investigation into the allegations.”
In total, 40 people were identified as being unknowingly recorded as part of the trial. Some footage apparently includes Henderson deliberately placing the cameras to capture views of a bed.
After investigating the cameras, the lawsuit claims the plaintiffs learned that some of the devices were capable of live streaming, allowing third parties to potentially see what the cameras were capturing. Cameras were allegedly found disguised as fire alarms, in a fan, in a clock and in several charging pads and socket extension cords.
The filing also claims that after being confronted for nearly a year, Henderson “frequently apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness through multiple text messages.”
The name of Henderson’s attorney for the recent trial has not been made public. A Courier Journal reporter’s call to Henderson was immediately denied after recording his name and the reason for his call.
The plaintiffs accuse Henderson of invasion of privacy, voyeurism and possession of material depicting a sexual performance by a minor and seek punitive damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and request a jury trial.
Henderson has owned the Kentucky Chateau in Versailles since 2023. He was also a founder of Angel’s Envy bourbon, which was later sold to Barcardi.
Angel’s Envy has removed Henderson’s name from its “Our Story” webpage, where he was previously listed as a co-founder.
Henderson also served as a deputy coroner in Oldham County and is an inductee into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
After the allegations surfaced, Henderson resigned from his position at the coroner’s office and took an unpaid leave of absence until further notice, Oldham County Coroner David Pendleton said Oct. 3.
The decision was made “before I could issue a notice of suspension,” he said.
Henderson also faces several unrelated lawsuits for debts, totaling more than $1.5 million, owed by his businesses.
Contact breaking news reporter Ruby Grisin at rgrisin@usatodayco.com.
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