Both spellings, whiskey and whisky, are correct. The spelling depends on the country of origin of the spirit.
- Whiskey: Ireland and the United States
- Whisky: Scotland, Canada, Japan, and other countries
For example, if you’re talking about a whiskey made in Ireland, you would spell it whiskey. If you’re talking about a whisky made in Scotland, you would spell it whisky.
The difference in spelling dates back to the 18th century, when Irish and American distillers began adding an extra “e” to the word to distinguish their products from Scottish whiskies.
Today, the two spellings are used interchangeably by many people, but it’s still generally considered more correct to use the spelling that is specific to the country of origin.
So, if you’re unsure which spelling to use, it’s always safe to err on the side of caution and use the spelling that is more common in the country where the whiskey or whisky was made.
Either way, when you order it at a bar, it’s pronounced the same way, so there’s no need to stress about it. Cheers!
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