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Jefferson’s Very Small Batch vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and Maker's Mark reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $36 | ~$25 – $32 |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch does 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
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).