Conecuh Ridge Distillery

Clyde May's whiskey traces back to a moonshine recipe cooked in the piney woods of Alabama's Conecuh Ridge in 1946, and today the brand finally has a proper home: a modern distillery in Troy, Alabama, built to distill, age, blend, and bottle the whiskey that bears Clyde May's name. It is a rare thing in American whiskey, a legally distilled spirit descended directly from an outlaw's still, with that still still sitting in the lobby for anyone who visits.

History & Heritage

Clyde May began distilling illegally in Butler County, Alabama, in 1946, working a small rig that came to be known as the "240 still," so called because it cost $240 to build. His whiskey earned a local reputation for a distinctive apple-finished character, a technique May developed in his own recipe. The brand stayed underground and informal for decades until his son, Kenny May, legalized it in 2001, first selling it as Conecuh Ridge Whiskey.

Ownership changed hands several times as the brand grew. Spirits Acquisition Corp., based in Dallas, purchased the Conecuh Ridge brand in 2009. An investment group called Conecuh Ridge Distillery, Inc., led by James Ammeen, recapitalized the company in 2014. In 2016 the business moved to Conecuh Brands, based in Garden City, New York, which remains, as of July 2026, the parent company behind Clyde May's. Roy Danis serves as President and CEO of Conecuh Brands.

For most of its modern history, Clyde May's whiskey was not distilled in Alabama at all. It was sourced from established producers in Kentucky (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers) and Indiana (MGP), while Conecuh Ridge spring water was trucked north to be part of the process. That changed with a formal commitment to bring production home: Alabama governor Kay Ivey announced plans for a Troy, Alabama distillery in September 2017, backed by an initial investment of $13.6 million. Ground broke on the project in January 2022, and by September 2025 the distillery reached a major milestone, installing a 31-foot, 3,364-pound Vendome column still in its Still House. As of December 2025, the distillery's gift shop and tasting room have opened to the public on Trojan Way in Troy, with the full visitor experience, including a restaurant and cocktail bar, expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2026. At full capacity, the Troy facility is designed to produce around 600,000 bottles a year. Clyde May's original 240 still is on display in the distillery lobby.

The Whiskey

The signature release is Clyde May's Alabama Style Whiskey, a straight bourbon finished with oven-dried apples, the same technique May used in his original moonshine. That mash bill runs roughly 55% corn, 30% rye, and 15% malted barley. The lineup also includes Clyde May's Straight Bourbon Whiskey, made without the apple finishing on a believed mash bill of about 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% malted barley, plus a Special Reserve, a Cask Strength expression, and Clyde May's Straight Rye Whiskey. Conecuh Ridge Bourbon, a newer addition, was unveiled in 2023. Whiskeys in the range are typically aged in charred oak barrels for an average of five to six years.

Why It Matters

Clyde May's whiskey carries an unusually deep trophy case for a brand its size. Clyde May's Straight Bourbon Whiskey took Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and scored 95 points at the New York International Spirits Competition. The Alabama Style Whiskey earned a 93 rating from Tasting Panel Magazine and gold at the 2023 Ascot Awards, while the Straight Rye Whiskey took Double Platinum at Ascot and a 92 rating at the New York International Spirits Competition that same year. The Special Reserve 6-Year Old 110-Proof Straight Bourbon won Double Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Earlier accolades stretch back further still: Clyde May's Conecuh Ridge Whiskey was named to Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Top 50 Spirits of 2012 with a 93-point score, and took 96 points and Best of Division (Small Batch Bourbon, 10 years or less, under $30) at the 2013 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. Alabama has named Clyde May's its official state spirit, a distinction that reflects both the brand's roots on Conecuh Ridge and its long path from an illegal backwoods still to a licensed distillery bearing its founder's name.

Visiting the Distillery

The distillery's gift shop and tasting room are open to the public in Troy, with guided tours typically running 45 to 60 minutes by reservation. Distillery hours for tours are Thursday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Adult pricing runs $15 to $20 depending on the tasting selection, and guests must be 21 or older with valid ID to participate in tastings. The full visitor experience, including a barrel house, food trucks, and a restaurant, is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2026.