Alabama’s Conecuh Ridge Distillery, home of Clyde May’s Whiskey, has installed its column still in Troy, marking a major step toward full on-site production ahead of a planned late 2025 opening. Made with copper, brass and stainless steel, the still is 3,364-pounds, 31-feet high and 24-inches in diameter.
The installation included the still being lowered into the Distillery’s Still House through the roof using a crane through a 4 foot x 11 foot opening with an approximate 6-inch clearance on each side making this a precision install.
Clyde May announced their plans to build the Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Alabama in 2017. However, ground was not broken until 2022. Three and a half years later, the distillery is taking the final steps towards going operational.
“This is the moment we have been working toward, bringing Clyde’s process under one roof in Troy,” said L.C. May, national brand ambassador for Conecuh Brands and grandson of Clyde May. “Granddad’s rule was simple, never rush the process. Installing this still lets us honor that rule with modern precision while keeping the soul of the whiskey intact.”
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
Engineered for consistency and flavor integrity, the custom 24-inch column still with a dedicated doubler is designed for steady, precise distillation as production scales. Each run is built to yield more than 800 gallons of distillate with each distillation. At maturity the system can support up to 9,000 barrels per year. The still is made by Vendome Copper & Brass Works founded in 1872 and building stills since 1910, is widely regarded as the American standard and supplier to many of the nation’s leading distilleries
