Brown-Forman vs. Barton

[bourbonmed]

Friends,

We best hang on to our Ridgewood Reserve 1792 bottles -- just in case Barton is forced to change design.

Cliff, Chuck: how do you legal eagles see this lawsuit ending?
Mike, are there similar cases in recent history?
Link below.

Omar

http://www.courier-journal.com/busin...on31-5180.html

[pepcycle]

With all the cat and dog branding that goes on, you can't figure out where half the bourbon comes from anyway. Shoot, if half the world found out that Woodford was really Old Forester, they'd stop buying all that crap about the scenic distillery in Versailles. I think Barton should counter-sue and say Woodford misrepresents itself.
Now, I happen to like Old Forester and by extension, Woodford. I just hate to pay for the fancy bottle,the small distillery hype etc. Brown-Forman should just get over it. Maybe if they concentrated some effort into product instead of marketing, they wouldn't have so much trouble.

[bourbonmed]

Ed,

With a giant '1792' in the center, the bottles hardly look alike. Just look at them side by side. Frankly, I like the Barton bottle better.


Omar

[pepcycle]

Omar,
I agree. Most people don't even know the name is Ridgewood Reserve. Everyone I've encountered refers to it as 1792. I like it better also from a flavor profile perspective as well as price point. I repeat. B-F should get over it.

[MurphyDawg]

While I think the suit is just silly I would have to disagree, when I pulled these two bottles out side by side in my collection I was amazed at how similar they actually were, and I can honestly see how someone from who does not know much about the bourbon industry could presume they were from the same distillery. Actually that is the exact kind of similar bottle I expected BF to use when the inevitable "Woodford Reserve Distillery" line extensions arrive.

That said I have always been rather adamant about my annoyance with marketing in relation to bourbon, and this is yet another negative example of it. I would love to just focus on what is in the bottle, but some folks in the industry just cant get past looks. Its sad, just hope that it doesnt kill a great bottling of bourbon in the process.


TomC

[brendaj]

Ed,

Maybe if they concentrated some effort into product instead of marketing, they wouldn't have so much trouble.

I agree 100%. This whole suit looks so petty. Reminds me of MM trademarking wax drips...
Yepper, they should just get over it.
Bj

[bluesbassdad]

Yep. They should either get over it or go all out. Weren't they the first to use bottles, of any shape or design?

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[Paradox]

Just my opinion but I hope they loose that one bigtime and it gets thrown out. Pathetic that is... I never once even thought of the 2 as similiar looking.

[Dave_in_Canada]

They're both attractive bottles. Hell, that's the reason I buy L&G. Just imagine the panic if they had dipped the cork in red wax

[Paradox]

OMG, what a similiar resemblance! NOT Give me a break Brown-Forman