a whiskey. At first, this dark amber spirit reads as light and sweet, from its distinct ripe apple and hazelnut notes to the light-bodied feel. But just when you think it's going to be a lightweight, there's surprising oomph on the finish, dry leather and clove notes that balance it out. This sippable whiskey would be great for whiskey sours and other cocktails. 93 points." Spirits Review by Chris Carlsson gave it a rating of 8 out of 10 (overall and for price/value) and said it was "A interesting whiskey if a bit on the light side. A good starter whiskey for people who are starting to explore brown spirits. But not something that would challenge the serious bourbon drinker." References Sources Emerson, Bo. "Ala. 'state spirit' is son's tribute to fine moonshiner." Arizona Republic. May 25, 2004. Harris, Clay. "Triple take: Alabama's first state spirit." The Auburn Plainsman. March 25, 2004. Kuntzman, Gersh. "Crushed Spirits: Why has Alabama banned sales of its official state whiskey? Our columnist investigates." Newsweek. February 28, 2005 Hall, Wade. Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge: The Clyde May Story. Montgomery, Alabama: New South Books. 2003. Irvin, David. "'Official state spirit' returning to stores." Montgomery Advertiser. May 10, 2006 "Alabama's official state whiskey will return to shelves this week, new owner says." Birmingham Business Journal. May 23, 2006 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. External links Conecuh Ridge Official website The Alabama State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Whiskies of the United States Symbols of Alabama