Whiskey vs. Whisky
There are two spellings for whiskey/whisky, but do they denote anything significant? Are these two spellings that evolved over time in different locations-as happens with many English words? Or, do the two spellings refer to different types of distilled drinks?
Whiskey/whisky both refer to a type of liquor that is distilled from fermented grains. There are many different subcategories of whiskey/whisky: bourbon, rye, Irish, Scotch, Tennessee.
1. Tennessee is known for its whiskey, and you can even take a tour of the Jack Daniels' distillery.
2. My husband's whiskey/whisky of choice is bourbon, with a splash of Coke.
3. She smelled whiskey/whisky on his breath, so she took the car keys from him.
4. My grandmother claims that a little Scotch whisky is the best cough medicine.
As you can see, I have used the word interchangeably in some sentences but not in others. So, when you do use each spelling?
Whiskey is the spelling that is preferred in the United States and in Ireland. Whisky is the preferred spelling in Scotland and Canada. So, typically you use the spelling that is preferred in the country where the whiskey/whisky is manufactured.
While it seems a little silly, you might actually offend someone if you spell Scotch whiskey instead of whisky-or Jack Daniels whisky instead of whiskey. So, use the spelling favored by the manufacturer of the spirits, and you won't offend the maker of the liquor or the country of origin. Bottoms up!
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