LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Maker’s Mark Distillery, famous for the distinctive wax seal atop its Kentucky bourbon, is seeing red over what it considers a trademark infringement by some competitors. In ...

But in 2001, Cuervo began selling the bottle with a red dripping wax. That was an infringement in the eyes of Maker’s Mark, which had trademarked the seal 20 years earlier.

Maker's Mark is known for its quality bourbon and unusual spelling. But it's perhaps each bottle's red wax seal that is the distillery's biggest claim to fame.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The dripping red wax seal on a bottle of Maker’s Mark bourbon is not only distinctive, it is now the exclusive legal property of the company that makes it.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The dripping red wax seal on a bottle of Maker’s Mark is not only distinctive, it’s now exclusive legal property of the bourbon company. A federal judge on Frida… ...

Maker's Mark, bottled in Loretto in central Kentucky, sued over the seal in 2003, claiming it violated the long-standing trademark. Cuervo dropped the dripping wax seal five years ago.

Maker's — a part of Deerfield, Ill.-based Fortune Brands Inc. — said it has used its red wax seal continuously since 1958 and has made the well-known top a big part of its promotions.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The dripping red wax seal on a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon is not only distinctive, it now legally belongs to the Kentucky company. A federal judge issued an injunction ...

The answer to the latter question is simple — the manufacturer's decision to seal every bottle with red wax is a marketing tactic. Maker's Mark even trademarked its red wax seal in 1985.