“The 80s Were Weird — Thank God for Knob Creek 12 Year”

Jul 10

Back in the late 80s, stuff was weird. Rock bands wore more makeup and hairspray than the girls they were trying to impress. Dudes rocked jeans with elastic cuffs — Bugle Boys, look ‘em up. T-shirts glowed in the dark or changed color when you sweat through ‘em (classy). And people drank vodka — on purpose.

Watch Bright Lights, Big City, Cocktail (Elizabeth Shue… enough said), or Wall Street. Same vibe: bros in suits wearing sunglasses inside, sipping clear liquid that tasted like absolutely nothing. Much like the music and culture of the late 80s.

The American whiskey scene was equally sad. Chasing lighter, milder bourbons. Vodka and “smooth” ruled the day. Most bourbon was young, low-proof, mass-market meh.

Then along came Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s sixth-generation Master Distiller (and grandson of Jim Beam himself). The man saw what was happening and declared:

“Bourbon was meant to be big, bold, and aged well.”

Hell yes, Booker. Bring me bold. Bring me aged. Bring me big oak and caramel. Bring me Doc Martens and flannel. Bring me music with dudes who actually played heavy riffs on beat-up guitars and didn’t care about their skincare routine.

🥃 Enter Knob Creek 12 Year

✅ It’s got an age statement.

✅ It’s 100 proof.

✅ It proudly lists the mash bill:

75% corn
13% rye
12% malted barley

This is pre-Prohibition style. It’s in your face. Damn good. Meant for sipping neat — after a crap day at work or a killer one. Served in places that appreciate polished wood and worn leather.

You can actually find it on shelves, and the bottle looks like it means business.

I love this stuff. Let’s break it down:

👃 On the Nose

American peanuts — the shell-‘em-yourself kind at a real ballpark.
Heavy toffee, dark chocolate.
Caramel, vanilla, and a deep oak char Teddy Roosevelt might’ve climbed as a kid.