The parent company of Kentucky Castle has removed CEO Wes Henderson after a lawsuit alleged that hidden cameras were used to record people without their knowledge, including people having sex at the Kentucky resort.
TKC Distilling confirmed Henderson's immediate removal on Saturday, 3 October 2026, after the allegations emerged in sealed court filings. Henderson has denied the claims, and no criminal charges have been announced in connection with them.
The decision places one of Kentucky's best-known bourbon figures at the centre of a legal dispute involving allegations of invasion of privacy and voyeurism.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this year in Kentucky, alleges that cameras were secretly placed at several properties connected to Henderson, including a holiday home in Florida and his Kentucky residence.
Kentucky Castle Allegations Emerge in Sealed Lawsuit
The allegations came to light after family members staying at Henderson's Florida home near Melbourne in June 2025 allegedly discovered hidden cameras, according to the court filings reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader. The filing says some of the cameras were capable of livestreaming.
The lawsuit alleges that some underage family members were captured nude by the cameras. The family subsequently handed the cameras and recorded footage to law enforcement, according to the filing.
The founder of a popular Kentucky bourbon brand has been removed as CEO of the Kentucky Castle after allegations that he secretly filmed people — including family members — having sex https://t.co/8FiTsy0Eos
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 4, 2026
The court documents also allege that cameras were found at Henderson's Kentucky home and that recordings from the Kentucky Castle were discovered. One filing referenced video recordings from SD cards that allegedly captured people having sex at the property, which is connected to Henderson's business interests.
Those claims have not been established in court. The lawsuit has been sealed, meaning the complete record and Henderson's response were not publicly available in the Herald-Leader's report.
The allegations include invasion of privacy, voyeurism, and possession or viewing of material portraying a sexual performance by a minor. They are allegations made in a civil lawsuit and should not be treated as criminal charges or findings of guilt.
No law enforcement agency has indicated that criminal charges have been filed against Henderson in connection with the allegations.
Henderson has strongly denied the claims. His attorney said in a Friday statement that he 'unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit' and said it was her understanding that the complaint would be voluntarily dismissed. She added that Henderson was prepared to defend himself if the case continued.
The reported dismissal had not been confirmed at the time of the company's announcement.
Kentucky Castle Parent Company Announces Leadership Change
TKC Distilling, which owns the Kentucky Castle as well as True Story Whiskey, removed Henderson as CEO with immediate effect, according to company attorney Charity Bird.
Bird said the company's board and leadership had taken the decision and that Henderson's son, Kyle Henderson, would assume the CEO duties for both the Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey.
'The Board will conduct a full and independent investigation into the allegations,' Bird said. 'The company remains committed to addressing the matter responsibly and to ensuring that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and fairly.'
Henderson had owned the Kentucky Castle since 2023. The Versailles property operates as a wedding and tourism destination with a hotel and restaurant.
He is also known for founding Angel's Envy, the bourbon brand that was sold to Bacardi in 2015 for a reported $150 million (£113.3 million). Henderson later launched True Story Whiskey and had plans for a $92 million (£69.5 million) distillery near the Kentucky Castle. Those plans are currently on hold, according to the report.
The allegations are separate from several other lawsuits involving Henderson and his business interests.
Architects Luckett & Farley have alleged they are owed more than $936,000 (£706,774) in connection with work on the now-shelved distillery. Peggy Noe Stevens' consulting company has alleged it is owed more than $510,000 (£385,101), while GMR Marketing alleged in a June lawsuit that TKC Distilling owes it more than $120,000 (£90,612).
Those cases remain pending and involve separate financial disputes.
Henderson is also a deputy coroner in Oldham County and a former firefighter. Representatives of Angel's Envy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Herald-Leader.
The latest allegations remain subject to the legal process, with the underlying lawsuit sealed and no criminal charges publicly announced against Henderson over the claims.
