According to the label, of Clyde May’s, “Clyde May was a moonshiner by trade but a craftsman by heart. He made his famous whiskey in hand-built copper stills, with fresh Alabama spring water and the finest local ingredients. The man was locked up for his passion — eight months in the federal penitentiary — yet he started up those copper stills the day he got out. This straight bourbon honors Clyde’s dedication to the craft. We use simple ingredients and a patient aging process to produce a fine, easy-drinking spirit. Like Clyde’s own moonshine, it’s a whiskey with integrity. Straightforward, porch-sitting, rocking chair bourbon — and this time, it’s perfectly legal.“
While the bourbon is currently made in Indiana, things will change soon for Clyde May’s as they recently broke ground on their own distillery in Alabama, though the first bottles won’t hit the market until 2027.
Review:Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 4-5 Years
ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
Type: Bourbon
Color: Dark Amber
Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 12% Rye, 10% Barley
Distillery: Not Disclosed
Location: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
The Nose: The soft nose of the Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey serves up a bouquet of dried apricots, brown sugar and a hint of nutmeg. None of them dominate as they harmoniously unite to create slight flat aroma.
The Taste: Delicate but tasty, the initial sip reveals oak and corn with a long leathery finish. Letting the glass sit for a bit, subsequent sips reveal exotic spices, orange peel and a touch of clove. Despite looking thin in the glass the bourbon is wonderfully robust with a long finish.
The Pairing: I was under the impression the Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon would offer more sweetness then I experienced. Thinking this would be the case, I reached for an Aladino Cameroon from 2GuysCigars.com. Cameroon wrappers normally native of Africa offer a nice sweetness, although in this case, the Cameroon is grown in Honduras by the Eiroa family from seeds harvested in Africa. When paired together the bourbon sees the sweetness intensified with notes of baked apples and apricots appearing on the palate. We never allow our pairing to affect our scoring, but if we did it would increase the score by 3 points.
Conclusion: While the nuances the bourbon has to offer are quite enjoyable, the long dry finish makes this something I would be hesitant to reach for on the regular. The leather component of the finish is just too much to overcome to make this something I would recommend, let alone purchase again.
Score: 84
Price: $36.99 (750ml in New Hampshire)
