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Jefferson’s Very Small Batch vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Comparing Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$28 – $36 vs. ~$90 – $130).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $36 ~$78 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).