Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey

A little background

Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey from Conecuh Ridge Distillery bears the name of the man responsible for the brand, Clyde May. Clyde crafted his first spirits in 1946, but it wasn’t until 2001 that the distilling operation was made legal. The company built its name around this popular “Alabama Style Whiskey”, which according to their website is finished with a hint of apple and is the Official State Spirit of Alabama. Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey is bottled at 85 proof and comes in at a retail of around $35. The mashbill is 55% corn, 30% rye, and 15% barley. The whiskey is aged 6 to 7 years in oak barrels and is finished with a hint of apple.

(Tasted neat from a wine glass)

Color

Straw/Bronze

Nose

Right from the beginning, corn and cinnamon come forward. The nose is not overpowering but quite pleasant especially as sweeter notes of butter, movie popcorn, and green apple enter the scene. As the whiskey opens up, notes of cinnamon start to fade away as the buttery notes become more prominent.

Palate

As the whiskey enters, you immediately get notes of cinnamon and allspice which are followed by some vanilla and even a hint of leather. I found the palate to be sweet which was quite pleasant as it matched up with the nose. 

Finish

The whiskey had a medium finish with lingering allspice and cinnamon notes from the palate. The flavors carry to the finish as the allspice sits on the back palate for a fair amount of time and then slowly dissipates.

Complexity

The whiskey is not overly complex but does have a good blend of flavors that are balanced throughout. I was worried the corn and cinnamon from the nose might be overpowering, but the whiskey ended up being very enjoyable.

In Conclusion

This whiskey didn’t blow me away by any means, but it was certainly enjoyable to sip on. I think this could be a solid pickup for the price for someone that enjoys corn forward whiskies or for someone just looking for something to drink on the back porch. I would say this one is worth a try if you’ve never had it before.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Clyde May’s.  We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review their whiskey!