Conecuh Ridge Whiskey facts for kids

Conecuh Ridge Whiskey is a special kind of whiskey known as "Clyde May's Alabama Style Whiskey." It's made by Conecuh Ridge Distillery Inc. This whiskey is famous for its unique recipe, which was created by Clyde May in Alabama many years ago. His son, Kenny May, later worked to make sure this special family recipe could be made and sold legally.

In 2004, the state of Alabama officially named Conecuh Ridge Whiskey its "State Spirit." This means it's a recognized symbol of Alabama, just like a state bird or flower! After some challenges, the company changed its leadership, and the whiskey continued to be produced.

The Story Behind Clyde May's Whiskey

The story of Conecuh Ridge Whiskey starts with a man named Clyde May. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Clyde made his own special whiskey in the woods of Alabama. He was known for making very high-quality whiskey. Many people thought his whiskey was much better than others made at the time.

Clyde was very careful about how he made his whiskey. He used the best tools he could find and took extra steps to make sure his product was pure and excellent. While some of his whiskey was sold right away, he would also age some of it. He put it in special charred barrels with a few dried apples for extra flavor. This whiskey would age for about a year. Clyde believed that the warm Alabama summers helped the whiskey age faster. He called this special aged whiskey his "Christmas Whiskey" and shared it with friends and important customers.

Making it Legal

After Clyde May passed away in 1990, his son, Kenny May, wanted to honor his father's memory. He decided to find a way to make Clyde's special whiskey legally. After careful planning, the first legal bottles of Conecuh Ridge Whiskey were made in 2002.

Even though the company's offices were in Alabama, the first batches of whiskey were actually made in Kentucky. This was done by a company called Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. They followed Clyde's recipe carefully. They even brought spring water from Alabama to use in the whiskey. The whiskey was then aged in oak barrels and bottled before being sent back to Alabama to be sold.

Alabama's Official Spirit

In April 2004, something very exciting happened. The lawmakers in Alabama voted to make "Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey" the official "State Spirit." This was a big honor for the whiskey! For a while, it was sold in many stores across Alabama and in nearby states like Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.

Later in 2004, the company faced some difficulties. There were changes in how the whiskey was distributed. Kenny May also had to deal with legal issues related to selling alcohol. The company's license to sell whiskey was temporarily affected. However, the whiskey remained Alabama's "Official State Spirit." New leaders, like Alva Lambert and Wesley Henderson, stepped in to help the company through these challenging times. They even helped the whiskey reach more places around the world.

In 2009, a new company bought Conecuh Ridge. Then, in 2014, a new group of investors took over. They are working to make the brand even bigger. In 2017, Clyde May's grandson, L.C. May, joined the company. He helps share the family's history and heritage with everyone.

Also in 2017, Clyde May's Whiskey announced plans to build its own distillery in Troy, Alabama. This town is only about 20 miles from where Clyde May originally made his whiskey. This new distillery will help keep the tradition alive right in Alabama!

What Makes it Alabama Style?

Conecuh Ridge is called an "Alabama Style Tippling Whiskey." This means it's made in a way that reminds people of the special drinks found in informal gathering places long ago. Clyde May used spring water from Southern Alabama. He also added oven-dried apples to his barrels. These apples give the whiskey hints of green apple and cinnamon. This makes it smoother and gives it that unique "Alabama Style" flavor. The whiskey is then aged for five to six years in special charred white oak barrels.

Awards and Recognition

Clyde May's Whiskey has won many awards for its great taste and quality:

• In 2015, it won "Best of Category" and a Gold Medal at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.
• It won a gold medal for taste at the 2012 MicroLiquor Spirit Awards.
• In 2017, Clyde May's Whiskey scored 93 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
• Clyde May's Straight Bourbon also scored 93 points at the 2016 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. It won a gold medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits competition that same year.
• Clyde May's Special Reserve scored an impressive 96 points and won the chairman's trophy at the 2016 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
• Clyde May's 8 Year Old Cask Strength Whiskey won gold at the 2016 New York World Wine & Spirits competition. It was also named a top five Cask Strength Whiskey by Liquor.com.
• Clyde May's 9 Year Old Cask Strength Whiskey was listed as one of the "10 Great New Aged Bourbons and Ryes" by Liquor.com.

What People Say About It

• Food critic Morgan Murphy said in his 2014 book that "Conecuh uses the formula of an old Alabama moonshiner, Clyde May, and the tradition shines through."
• At the 2013 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, the whiskey earned 96 points. It was named "Best of Division" for small batch bourbons.
• Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Clyde May's Conecuh Ridge Whiskey among its Top 50 Spirits of 2012. Their reviewer, Kara Newman, described it as a "spry chameleon of a whiskey." She noted its distinct ripe apple and hazelnut notes. She also mentioned a surprising strong finish with dry leather and clove notes. She gave it 93 points.
• Spirits Review by Chris Carlsson gave it a rating of 8 out of 10. He said it was "A interesting whiskey if a bit on the light side. A good starter whiskey for people who are starting to explore brown spirits."