Illegally smooth, legally exceptional. Clyde May’s Special Reserve 5 Year Old pays tribute to an Alabama bootlegger turned whiskey legend, a man who didn’t cut corners, even when the law chased him. Aged five years and bottled at 55% ABV, this Reserve isn’t just stronger, it’s smarter, deeper, and bolder than the original.

Clyde May’s Special Reserve 5 Year Old 75cl
Brand: Clyde May’s | Category: Straight American Whiskey | ABV: 55% | Origin: Alabama, USA | Vol: 750ml

Tasting Profile
Nose: Big and bold, spiced apple, toasted pecan, charred oak, and a touch of sweet tobacco.
Palate: Full throttle but refined. Caramel, dark cherry, vanilla bean, cinnamon heat, and seasoned oak coat the tongue with weight and warmth.
Finish: Long and dry, oak spice and fruit linger in a slow Southern fade with a rye-like snap.

Production Details
Crafted using a high corn mashbill and aged in heavily charred American oak for 5 years. Bottled at cask strength (55%) for robust flavor and non-chill filtered to keep its natural character intact. It’s Alabama-style whiskey with backbone and story.

Perfect For
The bourbon drinker ready for something off the beaten path. Great for late-night sipping, gift-giving with a story, or upgrading your whiskey shelf with a bottle that blends Southern charm and cask strength power.

Expert Notes
Often mistaken for bourbon, Clyde May’s Special Reserve is technically a “straight American whiskey” because it’s finished with oven-dried apples, a nod to the founder’s moonshining roots. What it lacks in label conformity, it more than makes up for in flavor.

Customer Reviews
“Hot, rich, and southern to the core. A bourbon lover’s wild card.”
“Smooth at 55%, didn’t expect that. Sweet apple, heavy oak, real punch.”
“Clyde would be proud. This bottle’s all heart and heat.”

Interesting Fact
Clyde May was a real WWII veteran and moonshiner who served prison time for distilling but even behind bars, his whiskey continued to sell. The brand’s current releases honor his recipes, outlaw spirit, and pursuit of flavor over conformity.

Serving Suggestions
Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to coax out the sweet apple and spice. For a bold cocktail, try it in a cask-strength Old Fashioned with smoked bitters.

Distillery Background
Clyde May’s is now a legal, award-winning brand but it hasn’t forgotten its roots. Based in Troy, Alabama, it crafts whiskey with a distinctive regional style: smooth, fruit-laced, and unapologetically strong.