Apple chips | Golden raisins | Hay | Fresh oak | Light overall scents

Light oak | Rye spice | Green peppercorns | Touch of vanilla | Watery mouthfeel

Light oak | Slight vanilla | Pop of rye spice | Light lingering heat and oak

Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon is aptly named after Clyde May who was an Alabama farmer. May had a storied history of being a talented moonshiner in the mid-20th century, refining his craft over the years and ultimately spending time in a federal penitentiary because of this. Known for his usage of oven-dried apples, May would add these to his barrels during the aging process resulting in a distinctive flavor profile. While the whiskey is currently sourced, the company announced plans in late 2017 to open a distillery in Troy, Alabama. Construction was delayed with groundbreaking finally taking place in January 2022. The distillery is slated to open in Spring/Summer of 2024.

Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon is a whiskey that brings little excitement to its pour. Opening with light overall scents, the sip does little to try to win you over. The midpoint of the sip comes across as watery and simple. The one redeeming factor is the finish with its long and lingering spice and oak notes. It’ll be interesting to see how the brand reinvents itself once they start distilling in-house. In its current state, Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon blends in with the other sourced Indiana bourbon on the shelves and provides little motivation to give it a go.

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Editor's Note: The distillery open date was updated on 12/12/2023 from Fall 2023 to Spring/Summer of 2024.