Jimi Hendrix-inspired liqueur faces legal battle

Experience Hendrix LLC is suing Tiger Paw Distributors and Leon Hendrix – brother to the late Jimi Hendrix – arguing the pair’s Purple Haze Liqueur infringes the rock star’s trademark.

Leon Hendrix, brother of Jimi Hendrix, partnered with Tiger Paw Beverage Company to launch Purple Haze Liqueur in 2015

Experience Hendrix filed the suit on Tuesday 1 March claiming the marketing behind the brand is “tasteless”, especially due to the fact “drugs and alcohol have been connected to Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death”, reported Law360.

Tiger Paw Beverage Company and Leon Hendrix launched Purple Haze Liqueur inspired by the late star’s songs in April 2015.

According to the suit as reported by Law360, Al Hendrix – founder of Experience Hendrix and father to the musician – decided early on in the firm’s establishment not to license the Hendrix Marks or Jimi Hendrix music in connection with any alcohol or drug related products.

In 2014, the defendants – including Private Label Distillery LLC, Savannah Distributing Co. and Tiger Paw president Joe Wallace – started promoting Purple Haze Liqueur, but Wallace was unsuccessful in trademarking the spirit’s design.

The younger Hendrix brother has been caught in a lawsuit regarding alcohol and his sibling’s name before, with the release of Jimi Hendrix Electric Vodka back in 2006.

The bottle design and marketing materials featured a black and white image of Jimi Hendrix’s face, and following a separate lawsuit a permanent injunction was granted in 2008 to stop product sales.