Clyde May's Liquor Barn Single Barrel Bourbon 750ML

Clyde May's Liquor Barn Single Barrel Bourbon 750ML is a non-chill filtered, 102-proof (51% ABV) single barrel straight bourbon in a 750ml bottle. As a private barrel selection from the Clyde May's single barrel program, this expression showcases the character of an individual cask rather than a blended profile, delivering barrel-specific depth that sets it apart from the brand's standard lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 51% (102 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA (Sourced)  |  Single Barrel Straight Bourbon  |  Brand: Conecuh Ridge Distillery

Production & Heritage

Clyde May's traces its name to the legendary Alabama moonshiner Clyde May, whose family carried forward his distilling legacy through the Conecuh Ridge Distillery brand. While the brand's Alabama Style whiskey is famous for finishing with oven-dried apples in the barrel, this straight bourbon expression contains no apple influence — it stands entirely on the strength of its grain and oak. The liquid is distilled in Indiana from a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, then aged in new 53-gallon American oak barrels and bottled without chill filtration in Auburndale, Florida. That higher rye content drives noticeable spice complexity, and the non-chill filtered approach preserves the full weight and texture of the spirit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens warm and inviting with rich caramel and toasted oak, followed by sweet citrus peel and a faint dried fruit sweetness that deepens as the glass opens up.

Taste: The entry is bold and well-structured, with caramel and brown sugar meeting toasted oak almost immediately. At mid-palate, leather and baking spices emerge — think cinnamon bark and allspice — while cherry undertones add a fruity counterpoint. The 102-proof backbone keeps everything firmly in place without excessive heat.

Finish: Long and smooth, with lingering oak, sweet honey, and a trailing warmth of dried spice. The non-chill filtered body gives the finish notable texture, holding onto those final notes longer than many bourbons in this proof range.

How to Drink Clyde May's Single Barrel

At 102 proof and non-chill filtered, this bourbon rewards neat pours or with a few drops of water to open the oak and spice layers. A single large ice cube also works well, softening the proof while keeping the rich mouthfeel intact.

In cocktails, the barrel strength and rye-leaning spice make it a strong foundation:

• Old Fashioned — The caramel and oak hold up beautifully against bitters and sugar, and the 102 proof keeps the whiskey present through dilution.
• Boulevardier — The cherry spice and leather notes complement sweet vermouth and Campari without being overwhelmed.
• Manhattan — The rye-forward mashbill gives this bourbon the backbone a proper Manhattan demands, adding dry spice to the sweet vermouth pairing.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts seeking barrel-specific character over batch consistency
• Building a single barrel collection to compare cask variation
• Gifting a whiskey drinker who appreciates non-chill filtered, higher-proof expressions
• Side-by-side tastings against other private barrel selections

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Clyde May's Single Barrel taste like? It leads with bold caramel and toasted oak, followed by leather, cinnamon, and cherry spice, finishing long with honey and lingering warmth. The non-chill filtered production preserves a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel.

How does Clyde May's Single Barrel compare to Henry McKenna Single Barrel? Both are sourced single barrel bourbons, but Clyde May's runs at 102 proof versus Henry McKenna 10 Year's 100 proof (bottled in bond), and uses a higher rye mashbill that pushes more baking spice. Reviewers have described Clyde May's Single Barrel as occupying the space between standard Henry McKenna and the 10-year bottled-in-bond expression in terms of complexity and depth.

Is Clyde May's Single Barrel good for sipping neat? Yes — the 51% ABV sits in the sweet spot for neat drinking: assertive enough to deliver full flavor but not so hot that it overwhelms. The non-chill filtered texture adds a creamy quality that makes it especially satisfying without dilution.

Where is Clyde May's Single Barrel made? The bourbon is distilled in Indiana from a corn, rye, and malted barley mashbill, then aged in new American oak barrels and bottled in Auburndale, Florida under the Conecuh Ridge Distillery brand.

What foods pair well with Clyde May's Single Barrel? Smoked brisket — the oak and leather mirror the char and fat. Dark chocolate — bittersweet cocoa amplifies the caramel sweetness. Aged cheddar — its sharpness cuts through the bourbon's richness. Pecan pie — mirrors the brown sugar and toasted nut notes. Charcuterie with dried fruit — echoes the subtle dried fruit aroma on the nose.

What sizes does Clyde May's Single Barrel come in? This private barrel selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Clyde May's Single Barrel worth the price? Clyde May's Single Barrel positions in the mid-premium tier for single barrel bourbon, and the non-chill filtered, 102-proof profile delivers above-average complexity for its price point. As a private barrel selection, it also carries the added appeal of a unique, one-of-a-kind cask that will never be replicated.

Why Clyde May's Single Barrel?

What distinguishes this bottle is the intersection of its production choices: a rye-forward 75/21/4 mashbill, non-chill filtration, and single barrel bottling at a full 102 proof. That combination preserves every nuance the individual cask developed during aging, from the grain-driven spice to the oak-influenced sweetness. While the broader Clyde May's brand has earned recognition — including Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 95-point score for its straight bourbon — this private barrel selection offers something those blended expressions cannot: unrepeatable, cask-specific character that rewards careful attention on every pour.