A kitchen bar shows a white quartz countertop, mixed blue collage tile backsplash, and a large collection of spirits, bar accessories, and shot glasses.
A collection of whiskey and bourbon bottles arranged on a counter, including brands like Willett, Rittenhouse, Jameson, Bulleit, and Booker’s, with a small wooden aging barrel displayed prominently in the center.

To E Or Not To E — Spelling Whisky/Whiskey

Whisky or whiskey?  Which spelling is correct?  Both.  In honor of International Whisk(e)y Day, I figured I would clear up this issue.  Spelling the word is a matter of geography.  It generally corresponds to where one distills the spirit.  Thanks to Jeff Cioletti and his wonderful book The Year of Drinking Adventurously for this concise summary:

A collection of whiskey and bourbon bottles arranged on a counter, including brands like Willett, Rittenhouse, Jameson, Bulleit, and Booker’s, with a small wooden aging barrel displayed prominently in the center.


Whisky — Scotland, Japan, Canada
Whiskey — United States of America, Ireland

Let’s move from spelling to etymology (a fancy term for a word’s origin).  What does whisk(e)y mean? It comes from an Irish Gaelic or Scottish word that means “water of life.”

Celebrate International Whisk(e)y Day by incorporating the spirit into a cocktail, whether it’s a classic such as a Manhattan or Whiskey Sour, an underrated drink such as a Derby or Fireside Chat, or an original creation such as a Cancer Killer #1 or Whiskey Queen. Cheers!

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