‘Mother of Bourbon’ Distillery Sues over ‘Dowling’ Trademark

A Kentucky bourbon company named for Mary Dowling—a pioneering late-19th century female distiller—sued a Texas distiller for operating under a “Dowling Distilling” trademark.

Mary Dowling Whiskey Co. said the trademark of Dowling Distilling Corp., incorporated in 2023, will likely confuse consumers in a Thursday complaint to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

MDWC has registered word trademarks “Dowling,” “Mary Dowling,” and “Dowling Brothers” along with some Dowling Brothers logos—all covering distilled spirits—dating to 2019, when its registrations claim it first began using the branding.

The case could turn on the principle that a trademark being your ...