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Mother of Bourbon: The Greatest American Whiskey Story Never Told
The outrageously inspiring story of the most successful and influential woman distiller of Kentucky Bourbon that nobody’s heard…until now! Introducing Mary Dowling, Mother of Bourbon.
“Unsung bourbon distiller—and force of nature—Mary Dowling overcame family tragedy, discrimination, and Prohibition, to achieve extraordinary success. Her story comes to life in this page-turning novel.” —Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky The Essential Guide to the American Spirit
Born in 1859 to Irish immigrants who’d escaped the great potato famine, Mary Dowling arrived at the height of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic fervor in America. The hardscrabble life her family led provided the foundation of grit and determination that would serve her well, along with a natural gift for numbers and planning. She married the enterprising John Dowling when she was just fifteen and he was thirty-three. Despite their age gap, John was a kind and adoring husband who recognized Mary’s remarkable skills and made her his partner not just in life but in business. He offered her oversight of their burgeoning bourbon company’s financial books and sought her insight and advice on acquisition and expansion as they steadily grew from distillery investors to sole proprietors of Waterfill and Frazier in Tyrone, Kentucky, just outside Lawrenceburg, in the heart of Bourbon Country.
“Mother of Dragons? Give me the Mother of Bourbon! In this historical fiction, Kaveh Zamanian and Eric Goodman break the boundaries of traditional bourbon books, just like the woman it’s based on—Mary Dowling. From love to business, this bourbon soap opera is a must read, will keep you entertained, and make you question everything you thought you knew about America’s Spirit.” —Fred Minnick, author of the Rise, Fall and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, Bourbon Curious, and Whiskey The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey
Mary’s first trials arrive at the turn of the century in a series of tragedies that leave her widowed and with a business no one wants to support. Steering not only the lives of her eight children, she bucks up against a male-dominated bank and distributor that drop her because women don’t run businesses, to align herself with progressive partners who value the dollar over outdated ideas about gender. She scales to ever higher heights, becoming an influential member of Lawrenceburg society while achieving immense wealth at a time when women still couldn’t vote.
When Prohibition arrives with its attendant animosity toward immigrants and Catholics, Mary is forced into semi-retirement—until the federal government comes after her on trumped-up charges of bootlegging. Only then does she bite back, determining that if she is going to be treated like a criminal, she will behave like one—taking her operation to Juarez, Mexico, to begin another iteration of Waterfill and Frazier that would distill and legally distribute bourbon throughout Mexico and, less legally, north into the US.
Mother of The Greatest American Whiskey Story Never Told is the never-before-told story of a pioneering and visionary woman who achieved success in a system designed to suppress her, and against a government that strived to repress her. Mary’s courage and determination are the hallmarks that live on today in Mary Dowling Whiskey, as extraordinary and distinctive as the woman whose name it bears.
“Unsung bourbon distiller—and force of nature—Mary Dowling overcame family tragedy, discrimination, and Prohibition, to achieve extraordinary success. Her story comes to life in this page-turning novel.” —Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky The Essential Guide to the American Spirit
Born in 1859 to Irish immigrants who’d escaped the great potato famine, Mary Dowling arrived at the height of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic fervor in America. The hardscrabble life her family led provided the foundation of grit and determination that would serve her well, along with a natural gift for numbers and planning. She married the enterprising John Dowling when she was just fifteen and he was thirty-three. Despite their age gap, John was a kind and adoring husband who recognized Mary’s remarkable skills and made her his partner not just in life but in business. He offered her oversight of their burgeoning bourbon company’s financial books and sought her insight and advice on acquisition and expansion as they steadily grew from distillery investors to sole proprietors of Waterfill and Frazier in Tyrone, Kentucky, just outside Lawrenceburg, in the heart of Bourbon Country.
“Mother of Dragons? Give me the Mother of Bourbon! In this historical fiction, Kaveh Zamanian and Eric Goodman break the boundaries of traditional bourbon books, just like the woman it’s based on—Mary Dowling. From love to business, this bourbon soap opera is a must read, will keep you entertained, and make you question everything you thought you knew about America’s Spirit.” —Fred Minnick, author of the Rise, Fall and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, Bourbon Curious, and Whiskey The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey
Mary’s first trials arrive at the turn of the century in a series of tragedies that leave her widowed and with a business no one wants to support. Steering not only the lives of her eight children, she bucks up against a male-dominated bank and distributor that drop her because women don’t run businesses, to align herself with progressive partners who value the dollar over outdated ideas about gender. She scales to ever higher heights, becoming an influential member of Lawrenceburg society while achieving immense wealth at a time when women still couldn’t vote.
When Prohibition arrives with its attendant animosity toward immigrants and Catholics, Mary is forced into semi-retirement—until the federal government comes after her on trumped-up charges of bootlegging. Only then does she bite back, determining that if she is going to be treated like a criminal, she will behave like one—taking her operation to Juarez, Mexico, to begin another iteration of Waterfill and Frazier that would distill and legally distribute bourbon throughout Mexico and, less legally, north into the US.
Mother of The Greatest American Whiskey Story Never Told is the never-before-told story of a pioneering and visionary woman who achieved success in a system designed to suppress her, and against a government that strived to repress her. Mary’s courage and determination are the hallmarks that live on today in Mary Dowling Whiskey, as extraordinary and distinctive as the woman whose name it bears.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
312 pages, Hardcover
Published April 29, 2025
39 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
Eric Goodman
8 books3 followersMOTHER OF BOURBON is Eric Goodman's 1st historical novel and 8th overall. It is also his first collaboration.
Goodman is probably best-known for the first two books of the Singer Saga, which are multi-generational novels telling the story of a father, "Jewish Joe" Singer and his son, Jess, who both pitch for the New York Mets. IN DAYS OF AWE, which focuses on Joe's story, appeared in 1991, published by Knopf. CURVEBALL, which focuses on Jess's story (a closeted gay man with a great curve) was published in 2024 by Post Hill Press.
For many years Goodman directed the Creative Writing Program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Goodman is probably best-known for the first two books of the Singer Saga, which are multi-generational novels telling the story of a father, "Jewish Joe" Singer and his son, Jess, who both pitch for the New York Mets. IN DAYS OF AWE, which focuses on Joe's story, appeared in 1991, published by Knopf. CURVEBALL, which focuses on Jess's story (a closeted gay man with a great curve) was published in 2024 by Post Hill Press.
For many years Goodman directed the Creative Writing Program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 18, 2025
A very interesting story that I don’t think I would have ever read, had it not been for book club. Thanks ladies!
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May 14, 2025This is a very interesting and amazing story about Mary Dowling, The Mother of Bourbon. The book follows her life, her family, her business and her incredible success. Eric Goodman is an excellent author. His descriptions of relationships between the many characters were fascinating. At the front of the book there is a family tree which provides important information about the family. The many conversations and discussions that Eric created added so much to the story. I highly recommend this book!!!!
January 26, 2026
If you are familiar with bourbon then you will recognize most of the names included in this historical fiction about a distillery owned and run by a woman before women could even vote. Like many successful women of her era, Mary Dowling is rarely given credit for the role she played in the history of bourbon.
September 17, 2025
What an interesting read! Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Kentucky history or the bourbon industry. This was well done. My only issue is that this was a fictionalized account of a true story and I would like to have some way of knowing what was based in fact and what was added.
September 29, 2025
great historical must read
Wonderful story and beautiful writing. Mary and John Dowling’s life gives one a sense of a hard working Irish Catholic family in Kentucky, overcoming all odds to create one of the finest bourbon distilleries.
Wonderful story and beautiful writing. Mary and John Dowling’s life gives one a sense of a hard working Irish Catholic family in Kentucky, overcoming all odds to create one of the finest bourbon distilleries.
July 31, 2025
historical, yet doesn't read like a history book. Mary is a force to be reckoned with. I love it!
November 12, 2025
Would make a great Netflix series.
January 6, 2026
Fascinating history
January 28, 2026
A must-read for every Bourbon-lover! Can't wait to seek out more of her story along my next trip to the bourbon trail.
June 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐, really enjoyed the history and seeing the family rise up from nothing. The sheet mobs part in prohibition and how nasty some folks were. KY stills being used in Mexico. Good book.
August 23, 2025
Read this book for a book club and it was definitely interesting! Great female empowerment kinda book! I would recommend if you’re really into history, bourbon or from Kentucky.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews