Redemption Uses Old World Winemaking Process for Whiskey

Redemption Whiskey's latest release uses a whiskey-making technique inspired by the French sur lie winemaking process to add layers of complexity and roundness.

This whiskey innovation begins with Redemption's award-winning classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, which boasts a rye content of 95%. Redemption then broke conventional whiskey-making norms by adding the flavorful backset that comes off the still during distillation, called the "whiskey lees," into the barrels before aging.

By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, the "lees" and whiskey continually interact and naturally infuse the whiskey with even more flavor. The "sur lee" method invigorates the rye's complexity to further enhance and develop the whiskey. Before bottling, Sur Lee is non-chill filtered to maintain optimal flavors and aromas. The end result is a whiskey that's deep and complex with a floral upfront, nutty backdrop and decadent, buttery notes of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg, balanced with a lingering spicy finish.

Said Tom Steffanci, president of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, which produces Redemption: "At the beginning of our creation process, we were curious to see what flavors would be imparted if we applied a technique similar to the French winemaking sur lie process to our amazing classic rye mash bill. We spent a lot of time adjusting the approach to get it just right and we are delighted with the delicious outcome. I can't wait to hear from consumers once they have the opportunity to taste it."

Redemption Sur Lee is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. The striking bottle design, featuring a silkscreen label and metallic accents, artistically explains Sur Lee's ground-breaking process, beautifully showcasing how the old-world winemaking process was applied to transform the whiskey.

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey, a very limited release,  will be available in New York, Delaware, Florida, California, Texas and Massachusetts from Oct. 1 while supplies last. SRP: $59.99/750 ML.