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Penelope Architect vs Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Penelope Architect and Jefferson’s Very Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +22 proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$28 – $36 ~$33 less |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 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
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/2 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch).