*Note* This story, and more, can be found in the most recent issue of The 2025 Progress, available now. 

t’s been a long process for Clyde May’s Whiskey but the future tourist destination in Troy can see the finish line as Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Troy is expected to open sometime this summer. 

Conecuh Ridge Distillery Vice President and General Manager Steve May said that a number of factors led to the long process of the opening but said that the production of the unique bottling line, produced in Italy specifically for Clyde May’s Whiskey, was partly to blame for the delays.

“Building a distillery is a hand-built business venture,” Steve May said. “It’s a lot like the way a Ferrari or Maserati are built by hand. Those cars take months and months to build and a distillery can take years and years to build. We’re a small company with a big name and we just don’t have the resources that some of these big brands have.

“I know the patience has been wearing thin a little in the community, a lot of people are counting on us, but we are trying diligently to get open.” 

Steve May said that the bottling line hit the water earlier in March and after it arrives and is installed – along with the specially made whiskey still – Conecuh Ridge will be ready to go, likely sometime during the summer.

“That still is 30-foot long and has to be dropped in through the roof of the building with a crane,” Steve May said. “That’s one of the biggest milestones on our calendar this year. When they drop that through the roof it will be an incredible day. Once that gets in there, we’ll probably be making whiskey within six weeks.” 

Clyde May’s Whiskey, designated as Alabama’s Official State Spirit in 2004, was founded by legendary World War II hero Clyde May, who returned home to Bullock County and began bootlegging whiskey after the war, building his own whiskey still in the process.

“People don’t realize how difficult (building a still) is, making whiskey is not for the faint at heart,” Steve May said. “That’s what makes Clyde May’s story so special. That was not a trained college engineer but he engineered his own still that made incredible whiskey and that enabled him to forge his name and reputation. That’s Elon Musk kind of lore. He was not just an incredible inventor but also an incredible whiskey maker. That’s why we honor the guy, he was that impactful along with being a war hero.” 

Clyde May’s grandson, and the brand ambassador for Coneuch Ridge Distillery, said that history is why it was imperative that the company not attempt to rush anything.

“Everything has to be up to my grandfather’s standard of excellence,” LC May emphasized. “We know that if it has his name on it then it has to be up to his standard.”

LC May said the company’s decision to relocate its entire production to Troy was like returning home for the May family.

“The May family is from the Bullock and Pike County area,” LC May said. “I would say Troy always had a leg up in that sense but we spoke to numerous towns and cities across Alabama. Troy fought hard and wanted us and we appreciated that level of enthusiasm and that ultimately is what led us to come home to Troy.” 

While Conecuh Ridge will start off bottling already distilled and aged products in Troy, eventually every single spirit that comes from the company will be bottled, distilled and aged right here in Troy. Conecuh Ridge, though, will be more than just a bottling plant and distillery, it will be a tourist destination.

“Our goal is to have a comprehensive tour destination for this part of South Alabama,” Steve May emphasized. “We’ve got big plans like tours, tastings and a retail store with a restaurant on site. We want to be a really nice destination, a great place for locals to hangout but also a great place for tourists to come.” 

Along with the 50 or so employees Conecuh Ridge will eventually employ, the economic impact will be much greater with the tourism factor.

“It’s really been a long time coming and we’ve all talked about it and dreamt about it for so long that it’s hard to articulate how much of an impact it will have on the area,” Steve May said. “We anticipate having 30,000 or so people this year that go through the tours and all. Next year, it could jump up 10 fold, we just don’t know because we aren’t sure what number of the 5.5 million people that flow through Troy going to the beach will stop in and check it out and take a tour or do a taste testing.” 

Conecuh Ridge also plans on hosting concerts and other events in the future.

“We hope to eventually get into having concerts and events that will be comparable to anything you would have anywhere in the country,” Steve May said. 

LC May emphasized that when Conecuh Ridge opens up it will be something that everyone can be proud of.

“We want this to be something that when the doors open it will be something that not only the City of Troy can be proud of but it’s something the entire State of Alabama can be proud of,” he continued. We’re thrilled and excited and cannot wait for this to happen and we are equally grateful for the citizens of Troy for their longstanding patience. We’re almost there. When it’s open, I will assure you that it will be worth the wait.” 

The Distillery is located at 248 Clyde May Way in Troy, off Trojan Way.