• Family life on Rabbit Road.

    Clyde May defines ‘True Grit.’ Born to a single mother shortly before the Great Depression, Clyde was raised in a time and place that required a dose of resilience and character — traits that would become a hallmark of the man and his whiskey.

  • Clyde answers the call

    Clyde May proudly served in the Army’s 77th Infantry Division during World War II. He earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while commanding a 12-man rifle squad. Clyde's misfortune of being wounded in battle turned into a pretty good thing for whiskey-loving Conecuh Ridge locals.

  • Clyde begins his legacy

    Clyde knew a thing or two about crafting the finest spirits around, even if his methods were slightly outside the laws of the land. His high standards and commitment to quality cemented his reputation as the "most-wanted" moonshiner in Alabama, if not the country.

  • Clyde heads to the federal penitentiary

    Clyde knew how to make great moonshine. And because of his handiwork, he spent eight months in the federal penitentiary at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, before he was paroled. Soon after his release — in true Clyde May form — he started setting up his next still.

  • Clyde May’s becomes legit

    Distilled since 1946. Legal since 2001. Over 70 years of authenticity, dedication, integrity and perseverance — that’s what it takes to become the first official state spirit in the country, the Official State Spirit of Alabama™.

1922