Tuesday Tasting: Conecuh Ridge Distillery and Clyde May’s

In today’s tasting, I’m diving into a blind tasting of four bourbons from Conecuh Ridge Distillery and Clyde May’s. These bottles are all from different expressions and age statements, and as I blindly mixed them, I spent a solid 15 minutes with each in a Glencairn glass to let them open up. The results are in, and here’s how they shook out!

The Drams:

A: Conecuh Ridge 5-Year Straight
B: Clyde May’s 6-Year Special Reserve
C: Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Blue Label, 2018)
D: Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Black Label, 2017)

The Tasting Notes:

A – Conecuh Ridge 5-Year Straight

Color: Light amber
Nose: Buttery toffee, caramel, with a hint of oak
Palate: Initially more proof than expected, with oak upfront, followed by vanilla and a dash of baking spice. Mouthfeel is modest.
Finish: Short but pleasant, with caramel and spice.
Score: 76.7

B – Clyde May’s 6-Year Special Reserve

Color: Rich copper
Nose: A bit of ethanol initially, followed by butterscotch and oak.
Palate: Similar to A, with ethanol first, followed by oak, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon. Thin mouthfeel.
Finish: Cinnamon and vanilla linger, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Score: 76.6

C – Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Blue Label, 2018)

Color: Deep amber
Nose: More vanilla and less butterscotch, with a hint of citrus
Palate: Cinnamon and citrus dominate, with ethanol taking a backseat. A touch of mint and light oak.
Finish: Spicy with a bit of vanilla lingering.
Score: 76.8

D – Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Black Label, 2017)

Color: Decent copper
Nose: Funky and brackish, not very pleasant.
Palate: Light but balanced, with cinnamon and vanilla following a burst of proof.
Finish: Mild caramel, oak, and baking spice.
Score: 71.7

Re-Tasting the Top Three

After letting them sit a while longer, I went back for a second round of tasting, and the results were surprising!

A (Conecuh Ridge): The nose softened, and more toffee and butter came through. The mouthfeel became fuller, and overall, this was much more enjoyable.

New Score: 78.5

B (Clyde May’s 6-Year Special Reserve): The nose improved significantly with a buttery sweetness, and while the palate remained largely unchanged, it was more pleasant overall.

New Score: 79.0

C (Clyde May’s Blue Label): The nose became more toffee-driven, and the palate showed improvement with a slight peanutty finish.

New Score: 78.6

Final Impressions:

It was an incredibly close race between A, B, and C. Here’s how they stacked up:

First Place: B – Clyde May’s 6-Year Special Reserve
The cinnamon-forward finish won this one for me. It’s a go-to, highly enjoyable pour that never disappoints.
Second Place: C – Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Blue Label, 2018)
The complexity of this dram puts it right on the heels of B. Not as sweet, but definitely a close contender.
Third Place: A – Conecuh Ridge 5-Year Straight
While it has a nice, balanced profile, it didn’t quite bring the same layers of complexity as the Clyde May’s offerings. Still, an excellent, affordable pour.
Fourth Place: D – Clyde May’s 5-Year Single Barrel (Black Label, 2017)
Unfortunately, the Black Label just didn’t impress in this blind. The funky nose and lighter finish knocked it out of contention.

Conclusion:

I was surprised to find that the Clyde May’s 6-Year Special Reserve took the top spot—it’s my go-to sip when I’m unsure of what I want, and it proved why today. Despite its higher price tag, I found that the Conecuh Ridge and Clyde May’s Blue Label weren’t far behind, offering fantastic complexity and flavor.

The Clyde May’s Black Label, though, left me puzzled. It had an unusual nose, and its finish was the shortest of the group. However, for the price, the Conecuh Ridge bourbons are a bargain, especially if you can find them on sale—my local store (Shore’s in Jacksonville and St. Augustine) had them priced under $20, which is a steal.

The hunt for great whiskey doesn’t always need to cost a fortune, and these affordable gems are definitely worth stocking up on!