Conecuh Brands LLC broke ground on its new Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Troy, Ala., which will produce Clyde May’s Alabama Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Roy Danis, President and CEO, Conecuh Brands; Lewis Clyde May II (LC), Brand Ambassador, Clyde May’s and grandson of the late Clyde May; Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves.  

Named for an Alabama moonshining folk hero, the brand has won awards from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Wine Enthusiast, New York Wine & Spirits Competition, and most recently the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  

“We distribute the Clyde May’s brand in all 50 states and internationally as well,” Danis said in a news release. “However, this groundbreaking, permanently establishes the brand’s home in Troy, Ala. Clyde May, the man, a WW II war hero, a family man and expert whiskey maker got his start in this part of the country. Our distillery preserves his legacy for generations to come.”

“It’s great to welcome Conecuh Ridge Distillery, the maker of Alabama’s official state spirit, back to Troy, Alabama,” Ivey said. “This project is going to be a great addition to the City of Troy and the Pike County community as a whole, and I’m incredibly excited to see the distillery upon completion.”

The distillery will be built on 76 acres and was designed by Luckett & Farley of Louisville, Ky. Initially, a 24-inch column still will be in operation with room for additional stills. The current plan includes a rickhouse with a 10,000-barrel capacity, gift shop, restaurant and tasting room.

“The City of Troy is excited to begin the next phase of the Clyde May Distillery project as we celebrate the beginning of construction,” Reeves said. “This addition to our community will provide economic impact and tourist opportunities very unique for our State. This will be the start of a development that will provide an experience and a product Troy, Ala., will be proud to share with people from across our Country.”

“I am so proud that my grandfather’s legacy will go on. Clyde May’s is the official spirit of the state of Alabama and the first official state spirit. The fact that Clyde May’s is coming home is exciting for me and my family,” added LC May. 

The schematic for the distillery will include a road named after Clyde, Clyde May Way, as a permanent honor to the man who created the brand. The architecture was inspired by the legacy of Clyde May.  One of the features of the distillery is an immersive experience that will capture the local tradition and Clyde’s ingenuity.

The tenets of “an authentic experience” guided the design process with guests in mind.  The distillery grounds will include a mill, still house, rick houses, and bottling factory with a restaurant, museum, gift shop, apple orchard and amphitheater.

The distillery is expected to be completed in Spring of 2023; production will begin immediately and the first product produced from this facility is projected for release in 2027