Whisky and whiskey are both correct spellings of the spirit, but the spelling depends on the country of origin.
- Whisky is spelled without the e when referring to spirits distilled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan.
- Whiskey is spelled with the e when referring to spirits distilled in the United States and Ireland.
This difference in spelling is due to the different historical influences on the production of whisky/whiskey in each country. For example, the Scottish word for “water of life” is “uisge beatha”, which was eventually anglicized to “whisky”. The Irish word for “water of life” is “uisce beatha”, which was eventually anglicized to “whiskey”.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards using the spelling “whisky” for all types of the spirit, regardless of country of origin. This is likely due to the increasing popularity of Japanese whisky, which has helped to raise the global profile of whisky without the e.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide which spelling they prefer to use. There is no right or wrong answer, as both spellings are correct.