▁Spirit ". ▁However , ▁the ▁revers al ▁legisl ation ▁never ▁passed ▁the ▁Alabama ▁Senate . ▁It ▁remains ▁the ▁" O fficial ▁State ▁Spirit " ▁today . ▁Ken ny ▁May ▁passed ▁away ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁C one cu h ▁R idge ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁Dallas , ▁Texas - based ▁Sp ir its ▁Ac quisition ▁Cor p . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁company ▁was ▁rec ap ital ized ▁by ▁an ▁invest ment ▁group , ▁C one cu h ▁R idge ▁Dist illery , ▁Inc ., ▁led ▁by ▁chairman ▁James ▁Am me en ▁and ▁is ▁currently ▁expand ing ▁the ▁brand ▁into ▁selected ▁mark ets ▁throughout ▁the ▁U . S . ▁and ▁abroad . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁L . C . ▁May , ▁the ▁grand son ▁of ▁C ly de ▁May , ▁joined ▁the ▁company ▁as ▁their ▁National ▁Brand ▁Amb assador ▁thus ▁helping ▁bring ▁the ▁family ▁her itage ▁and ▁history ▁to ▁the ▁brand . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁C ly de ▁May ' s ▁Wh is key ▁announced ▁their ▁plans ▁to ▁build ▁a ▁dist illery ▁in ▁T roy , ▁Alabama . ▁T roy ▁is ▁located ▁about ▁ 2 0 ▁miles ▁from ▁where ▁C ly de ▁May ▁made ▁his ▁whis key . ▁Prior ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁dist ill ation ▁of ▁Sp ir its ▁in ▁Alabama ▁was ▁illegal , ▁and ▁C ly de ▁May ' s