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Clyde May's Bourbon

Alabama whiskey with a bootlegger's pedigree and an apple finish.

3 bottles Same-day or next-day LI delivery Wine shipping where legal
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The story

The story behind Clyde May's

Clyde May ran copper stills in Bullock County, Alabama, starting in 1946. He was a WWII veteran with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and he was also one of the South's most persistent moonshiners, which cost him 18 months at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1973. His son Kenny took the family recipe legal in 2001 under the Conecuh Ridge name.

The signature trick is oven-dried apple slices dropped into the charred oak, the same smoothing method Clyde used in the woods. That apple profile lives in the Alabama Style whiskey, not the Straight Bourbon, which stays a clean corn, rye and malted barley mash aged in new charred American white oak. Production now runs from the 248 Clyde May Way distillery in Troy, Alabama.

The lineup

Explore the Clyde May's range

Three bottles we keep on the shelf, from the flagship Alabama Style whiskey to the 92 proof Straight Bourbon. The 375mL is the smart way to try before you commit.

ExpressionTypeProof / ABVTasting notes
Clyde May's Whiskey 375mLAlabama Style American Whiskey85Apple finished, softer, easy sipping
Clyde May's Straight Bourbon 375mLStraight Bourbon92Corn, rye, malt; char and caramel
Clyde May's Straight Bourbon 750mLStraight Bourbon92Full bottle, same mash, better value
Clyde May's Straight Rye WhiskeyStraight Rye94Pepper and spice, drier finish
Clyde May's Special Reserve BourbonStraight Bourbon110Higher proof, deeper oak, longer finish
Clyde May's Cask Strength BourbonCask Strength BourbonVariesBarrel proof, rich and concentrated
Out of stockSpiritClyde May's - Whiskey 375mL$19.99Out of stockSpiritClyde May's - Straight Bourbon 375mL$21.99Out of stockSpiritClyde May's - Straight Bourbon 750mL$39.99
Buying guidance

Which Clyde May's is right for you?

Our shelf runs from the 375mL Alabama Style whiskey at $19.99 to the 750mL Straight Bourbon at $39.99, and the small bottle of Straight Bourbon sits at $21.99 if you want the legal bourbon without the apple. Those are honest numbers for a brand that spent decades as a backwoods secret. Stock moves, so call the Commack store at (631) 343-7200 and we will tell you what is on hand before you drive over.

The curious first-timerClyde May's Whiskey 375mL

Small bottle, low commitment, and the apple finish is the whole point.

The bourbon puristClyde May's Straight Bourbon 750mL

No additives, 92 proof, new charred oak. Everything legal bourbon should be.

The proof chaserClyde May's Special Reserve Straight Bourbon

110 proof gives you the oak and heat the standard bottle holds back.

Make the most of it

Clyde May's cocktails and pairings

Apple and pork are the obvious road here, and the Straight Bourbon handles smoke and aged cheese just as well.
Good to know

Clyde May's questions, answered

Is Clyde May's a real bourbon?
Yes. Clyde May's Straight Bourbon meets every legal requirement: at least 51 percent corn, aged in new charred oak, no additives. The original Alabama Style flagship is labeled American Whiskey instead because it is finished with dried apples.
Where is Clyde May's whiskey made?
Production now runs from the company's own distillery at 248 Clyde May Way in Troy, Alabama. Earlier bottles were sourced from contract distillers in Kentucky and Indiana, which is why older labels list different origins.
Why does Clyde May's taste like apple?
The apple comes from oven-dried apple slices added to the charred oak barrels. It is a nod to Clyde May's moonshining method and appears only in the Alabama Style bottles, never in the Straight Bourbon.
What is the official state spirit of Alabama?
Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey, the heritage recipe behind Clyde May's, was named the official state spirit of Alabama by the state legislature in 2004. It remains the only spirit with that designation there.
Do you deliver Clyde May's bourbon locally?
Yes. We offer same-day or next-day delivery across Nassau and Suffolk, free local delivery over $250, and free curbside pickup at our Commack store. Spirits are pickup and local delivery only, never shipped.
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