PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Jefferson’s has spent nearly three decades positioning itself as the experimental, boundary-pushing bourbon, founded in 1997 by Trey Zoeller and his father Chet, a bourbon historian, and rooted in a family whiskey legacy that goes back to 1799, when Trey’s eighth-generation great-grandmother was arrested for the “production and sale of spirituous liquors.” The brand’s philosophy, in its own words, is “a belief that the best bourbon isn’t made by following tradition, it’s made by breaking it”: blending across barrels of different ages and mash bills, finishing in unusual casks, even aging bourbon at sea.
Very Small Batch is where most people start. It’s a blend of four different Kentucky straight bourbons of varying ages and mash bills, hand-selected and assembled in very small batches, with one of the blends making up at least 55% of the total. The combined mash bill is reported at about 60% corn, 30% rye, and 10% malted barley, and the brand notes that it’s aged in barrels with a very light char, “allowing a myriad of secondary flavors to express themselves.” Jefferson’s discloses that the whiskey is blended from Kentucky bourbons and not all distilled in-house.
In September 2026, the brand redesigned the packaging across its whole core lineup (Very Small Batch, Triple-Rye, Reserve 8-Year-Old, and Ocean Aged at Sea) to give a more cohesive look and a clearer way to tell the expressions apart. The new Very Small Batch bottle carries a black label with gold lettering and the Jefferson’s “J” emblem, and three stars embossed in the glass at the base. The liquid was updated too: it’s now bottled at 88 proof (44% ABV), up from 82.3, a change the brand says enhances “its flavor and versatility whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails.” Even a few extra proof points typically mean a fuller palate and a longer finish.
The blend itself has long been described as light, smooth, and approachable. Reviewers of earlier, 82.3-proof bottlings found a nose of “caramel, vanilla, sweet candied dark fruits, light cinnamon, and toasted oak,” and a palate of “caramel, candied dark fruits that remind me of red cherry ball candies, a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted oak,” with a medium finish. Another found “vanilla and butterscotch with lighter notes of an orange dreamcicle,” and said it was “a light and easy sipper, especially for those newer to bourbon.” Critics have been measured on the previous version: Breaking Bourbon called it “pleasant yet simple,” and a Whiskey Jug review scored it in the low 80s, “not bad, but not very exciting.” The new 88-proof version has had no independent reviews yet, so the tasting notes below describe the blend’s established house style.
It’s a friendly bourbon at an everyday price: easy to sip neat or on the rocks, and a solid base for an Old Fashioned or a Highball. It’s a natural companion on the shelf to Jefferson’s Triple-Rye and Reserve 8-Year-Old, which complete the refreshed core range.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is blended by Jefferson’s Bourbon (founded by Trey Zoeller; master blender Ale Ochoa) from four Kentucky straight bourbons of different ages and mash bills (combined mash bill about 60% corn, 30% rye, 10% malted barley), aged in new charred American oak. Bottled at 44% ABV / 88 proof (previously 82.3 proof), 750ml, in the September 2026 redesigned bottle.
No independent reviews are published yet for the new 88-proof bottling. House-style notes from earlier bottlings:
Secret Whiskey Society (earlier 82.3-proof bottling):
“Nose: Caramel, vanilla, sweet candied dark fruits, light cinnamon, toasted oak. Palate: Caramel, candied dark fruits that remind me of those red cherry ball candies, a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted oak. Finish: Medium finish with a bit of heat that leaves you with a nice buttery mouthfeel full of candy fruit flavors, brown sugar, and a nice lingering toasted oak.”
Joseph Bourbon (earlier bottling):
“Nose: Vanilla and butterscotch with lighter notes of an orange dreamcicle. Palate: Vanilla with gentle spice and lightly toasted oak. Finish: Medium in length... The low-proof makes for a light and easy sipper, especially for those newer to bourbon.”
Breaking Bourbon (earlier bottling):
“The nose and palate deliver a pleasant yet simple start to the sip.”
Jefferson’s (2026 announcement):
“Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Bourbon has also evolved to be bottled at 88 proof, enhancing its flavor and versatility whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails.”
House-style description; to be updated once the 88-proof bottling has been tasted.
Nose
Caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch, with sweet dark fruit, light cinnamon, and toasted oak.
Palate
Smooth and slightly sweet, with caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, and candied dark fruit, with a light toasted oak.
Finish
Medium in length, with gentle warmth, vanilla, and lingering oak.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys |
| ABV / Proof | 44% ABV / 88 Proof (previously 82.3) |
| Blend | Four Kentucky straight bourbons of different ages and mash bills |
| Reported Mash Bill | ~60% corn / 30% rye / 10% malted barley |
| Maturation | New charred American oak |
| Brand | Jefferson’s Bourbon — founded 1997 by Trey Zoeller; master blender Ale Ochoa |
| Packaging | September 2026 redesign: black label with gold lettering, Jefferson’s “J” emblem |
| Core Portfolio | Very Small Batch · Triple-Rye · Reserve 8-Year-Old (96 proof) · Ocean Aged at Sea |
| Style / Identity | An approachable, sweet-leaning, easy-sipping entry-point bourbon |
| Aromas & Flavors | Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark fruit, toasted oak |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Neat or on the rocks — a light, smooth sipper.
Old Fashioned — an easy, rounded base.
Highball — with ginger ale and a lemon twist.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
Your cart is empty
Start shopping
