Within the whiskey industry the wine category has influenced whiskey-making, most notably through use of various casks to secondarily age whiskey and enhance its flavor profile. Redemption’s Sur Lee is a first of its kind rye whiskey inspired by the French winemaking technique known as Sur Lie whereby the wine is kept in contact with the dead yeast cells in the barrel after fermentation, thus providing complexity and a tactile mouth feel. The result with Redemption is a delicious rye that is loaded with flavor, accentuated with a silky, creamy, and soft mouth feel. The spicy notes of the rye are clearly evident – the mash bill is 95% rye and 5% barley, after all. You’ll also find floral notes up front, followed by nuttiness, buttery flavors of toasted marshmallow, caramel, browned butterscotch, maple and nutmeg. All of this is nicely balanced with a lingering spicy finish. 94
A Platinum Award winner at the 2025 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.
Reviewed by Michael Cervin
Brand – Redemption
Spirit Type – Whiskey
Other Designation – Rye
Country of Origin – USA
ABV – 47%
Bottle Size – 750ml
Price – $60
Score – 94
Date Reviewed – 1/31/2025