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Jefferson's Reserve Very Old vs Penelope Architect
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old and Penelope Architect sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson's Reserve Very Old | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$5 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old: The older, drier sibling of Jefferson's Very Small Batch. Buttery toffee and dried fruit sit on a firm, slightly smoky oak backbone, and the finish turns peppery and long.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jefferson's Reserve Very Old if you want a mature, oak-driven blend with dried fruit and a dry, peppery finish at an easy proof at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).