Compare
Penelope Architect vs Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Penelope Architect and Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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 Reserve Very Old |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +14 proof | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$55 – $65 ~$5 less |
- 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
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 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.
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 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old).