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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Put Old Grand-Dad Bonded next to Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +18 proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$5 less | ~$28 – $36 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Jefferson’s Very Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
- Go with Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch).