Redemption's new rye whiskey, called Sur Lee, is inspired by classic French winemaking techniques involving yeast, creating a truly unique result.
Whiskey and wine don’t have much in common in terms of production and ingredients, but there are a few overlapping factors. The biggest difference is that whiskey is made from grains, while wine is made from grapes, something most people are probably familiar with.
Both can be aged in wooden barrels to enhance flavor. But American bourbon and rye must be aged in new charred oak barrels by law, while wine can sit in used or new barrels for months or not be aged at all. And both rely on yeast, the key ingredient that converts sugar into alcohol.
Redemption sources its bourbon and rye from MGP, a large factory-like distillery in Indiana that produces whiskey for many brands. Sur Lee is made using the standard rye whiskey blend: 95% rye grain and 5% malted barley. It is then aged in new charred oak barrels. During the maturation process, the Redemption team took a unique step: adding backset.
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Backset, which the brand also calls “whiskey lees,” is the liquid left over after distillation. It’s an essential part of making sour mash whiskey, during which a portion of the backset is added to a new batch of mash before distillation to help with consistency and kill bacteria due to its high acidity. In this case, the backset has been added to whiskey barrels and rotated throughout the aging process to ensure interaction between the backset and the whiskey.
The inspiration for this comes from the French winemaking concept of “sur lie,” where dead yeast cells are left in the wine as it ages to enhance flavor and body—a common practice in Champagne production. According to Redemption, adding whiskey lees to barrels has a similar effect.
We have to agree that it transforms this rye whiskey into something completely unique. It’s a fruity and vibrant drink with notes of black pepper, fresh raspberry, raisin, vanilla, roasted coffee bean, and citrus on the palate. The liquid is a clear orange-amber color when you pour it into your glass, but it gets quite cloudy if you chill it or mix it into a cocktail. Don’t worry, this is because the whiskey is filtered uncured, meaning the fatty acids and proteins that provide most of its flavor are clumped together. In other words, look at the cloudiness as flavor bubbles.
Redemption Sur Lee was first released in limited edition bottles a few years ago, but it’s now a permanent part of the portfolio and much easier to find. And you’ll be thankful you grabbed a bottle, because this versatile rye can be sipped or used in any whiskey cocktail, and at 94 proof, it can stand up to even the most flavorful ingredients.
Redemption Sur Lee is currently available nationwide for $60 a bottle.
Related: This Is the Best-Tasting Rye Whiskey of the Year, Period
