Redemption Sur Lee Rye Whiskey

Redemption Whiskey is reinforcing its Sur Lee straight rye whiskey as a constant offering in its Specialty Series portfolio, signaling a critical achievement for this distinct iteration with a novel maturation technique. The choice is a reaction to rising appeal from both avid aficionados and new patrons, as stated by the entity.

Sur Lie is a French winemaking method where wine is matured on its lees, or spent yeast cells, to bring about additional complexity and a richer texture. Inspired by this, Redemption has adjusted the approach for this specific rye whiskey by integrating so-called “whiskey lees” into the barrels prior to aging, enriching the whiskey’s richness and flavor nuances. (Hence the name “Sur Lee.”)

“What initially attracted me to this technique was its untapped possibility,” Alan Kennedy, Redemption Whiskey’s master blender, tells Forbes. “No one had ever utilized it in whiskey before, and it presented a unique chance to enhance rye’s intricacy and transform the whiskey into something distinctly extraordinary.”

The result is a flavor profile that is both deep and complex, Kennedy describes. “The result is a whiskey with rich, nuanced layers of flavor evolving with each sip,” he explains. “You’ll find floral notes up front, followed by a nutty backdrop. Then decadent, buttery flavors of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg. All of this is perfectly balanced with a lingering spicy finish that leaves a lasting impression.”

Kennedy also acknowledges the challenges and learning curve involved in developing this new technique.

“When we first conceived this expression at Redemption, we were venturing into uncharted territory,” Kennedy says. “We weren’t certain how the whiskey lees would influence our rye mash bill, so our biggest challenge was understanding the impact of this technique and finding the right balance. With such an unconventional approach, it was crucial to ensure the process didn’t overshadow the essence of our rye but rather pushed its boundaries.”

Redemption Sur Lee begins with a classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, featuring 95% rye and 5% barley content with an ABV of approximately 47%.

“We were also challenged by the techniques needed to create the whiskey,” Kennedy says. “With a new-to-world expression comes new-to-world techniques needed to create it. Almost every step in the whiskey making process had to be modified and new methods created.

“As the whiskey ages, we periodically rotate the barrels to ensure the backset continues to naturally interact with the liquid,” Kennedy says. “The result is a rye whiskey with layers of unexpected flavors and notes that are truly unique.”

By introducing a never-before-seen technique, Kennedy says he’s excited to see what inspiration this might spark in the industry.

“Within the whiskey industry, we’ve seen many ways that the wine category has influenced whiskey-making, most notably through the use of various casks to secondarily age whiskey and enhance its flavor profile,” Kennedy says. “However, we haven’t seen wine techniques influence whiskey in the way that the Sur Lee process did for us. We anticipate that more whiskey brands will begin to explore ways to combine these two worlds, just as we did, to further push the boundaries of the category.”

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

So, how can you be a power user?

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.