I've Tried Hundreds of Whiskeys. This Unique Rye Completely Impressed Me

A new rye whiskey from Redemption, called Sur Lee, draws inspiration from classic French winemaking techniques involving yeast that has resulted in something truly unique.

Whiskey and wine don’t have a lot in common when it comes to production and ingredients, but there are a few overlapping factors. The major difference is that whiskey is made from grains and wine is made from grapes—something that most people are probably familiar with.

Both can be stored in wood barrels to enhance flavor. But American bourbon and rye by law must be aged in new charred oak, while wine can spend just months in used or new barrels, or not be barrel-aged at all. And both rely on yeast, the essential ingredient that converts sugar into alcohol.

Redemption sources its bourbon and rye from MGP, the large factory-like distillery in Indiana that makes whiskey for many brands. Sur Lee is made using the standard rye whiskey mash bill: 95 percent rye grain and five percent malted barley. Then, it's aged in new charred oak barrels. During the aging process, the Redemption team took a unique step: adding backset.

Backset, which the brand also refers to as “whiskey lees,” is the liquid that is left over after distillation. It’s an important part of making sour mash whiskey, during which a portion of the backset is added to a new batch of mash before it’s distilled to help with consistency and to kill bacteria because of its high acidity. In this case, the backset has been added to the barrels of whiskey, which are rotated throughout the aging process to ensure interaction between the backset and whiskey.

The inspiration for this comes from the French winemaking concept of “sur lie,” in which dead yeast cells are left in the wine while it ages to enhance the flavor and body, a common practice in Champagne production. According to Redemption, adding the whiskey lees to the barrels has a similar effect.

We have to agree that it’s turned this rye whiskey into something that is totally unique. It’s a fruity and vibrant spirit, with notes of black pepper, fresh raspberry, raisin, vanilla, roasted coffee bean, and citrus on the palate. The liquid is a clear orange-amber when you pour it in your glass, but chill it or mix it up in a cocktail and it becomes quite cloudy. Don’t be alarmed, this is because the whiskey is non-chill filtered, which means the fatty acids and proteins that provide so much of its flavor clump together. In other words, look at the cloudiness as flavor bubbles.

Redemption Sur Lee was first released a few years ago as a limited-edition bottling, but it's now a permanent part of the portfolio and much easier to find. And you’ll be grateful to grab a bottle, because this versatile rye can be sipped or used in any whiskey cocktail, and at 94 proof, it can stand up to the most flavorful ingredients.

Redemption Sur Lee is available now across the country for $60 a bottle.

Related: This Is the Best-Tasting Rye Whiskey of the Year, Period