The massive copper still installed Tuesday in Troy might have made an old-time Alabama moonshiner like Clyde May scratch his head in wonder.

At 31 feet tall by 24 inches in diameter and weighing more than a ton and a half, with as many gleaming fittings as a pipe organ, there was no hiding this thing in the woods. Fortunately, there was no need to: It’s a key part of a new Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Troy. When it’s up and running, Conecuh will use it to produce Clyde May’s Whiskey.

Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey was designated as the official state spirit of Alabama in 2004, but its Clyde May’s whiskies have been distilled out-of-state since first becoming a legal product 2002. Several variants are produced today.

A 31-foot-tall copper column still is moved into the new Conecuh Rid

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