Use kernel version number rather than package release
Use the kernel version number to indicate release rather than just package version. The RHEL kernel is already an amalgam of multiple upstream releases and the version should help reflect that. One way would be to ship RHEL7.0 on kernel 3.x and rebase 7.1 on 3.x.N patch release. It may be possible to even include all local RH patches in a 3.x.N stable release. It may also be palatable to clients to ship 3.y.N as a 7.x service pack release