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Woodford Reserve vs Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Woodford Reserve and Jefferson’s Very Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +8 proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$28 – $36 ~$7 less |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch does 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
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong with slightly 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch).