A little background

Clyde May’s Straight Rye 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 their popular “Alabama Style Whiskey”, which according to their website is finished with a hint of apple. Clyde May’s portfolio has now expanded beyond the category of Alabama Style Whiskey, including both a bourbon and a rye whiskey. Clyde May’s Straight Rye Whiskey is sourced from Indiana and is aged at least 3 years. It’s bottled at 94 proof and has a retail price around $40 bucks.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color

Medium Gold

Nose

Sweet notes of apricot, vanilla, and confectionary apple pie.

Palate

Sweet and spicy! Apricot and citrus, followed by cinnamon and rye spice.

Finish

Cinnamon dominate but faint citrus peel and green apple laced throughout.

In closing

There is nothing inherently wrong with Clyde May’s Straight Rye Whiskey, but due to the associated cost of sourcing whiskey in today’s market makes it hard for them to keep the price in line with the cheaper and arguably better Bottled in Bond Rye alternatives. If you’re hankering to try something new or looking for that classic Indiana Rye profile, I would definitely would recommend picking up a bottle.

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 this whiskey