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Booker’s vs Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Comparing Booker’s and Jefferson’s Very Small Batch reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +43 proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$28 – $36 ~$66 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and Jefferson’s Very Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/2 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch: A blend of sourced barrels bottled at a very gentle 82.3 proof. Easy and inoffensive, but thin enough that it is hard to recommend over bonded bottles costing less.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch).