Let’s get one thing straight (or should that be neat?) – we love whisky. Whether it’s mixed into a whisky sour, poured into a Manhattan or served neat on a chilly winter’s night, it’s alright by us. Whisky, however you’d like to spell it, is a firm bar cart favourite round here.

So is there any difference between the two spellings? Whisky is the spelling favoured by Canadians, Scottish and Japanese producers – as well as us Aussies. Whiskey is generally used by American and Irish makers. Irish emigration to the States accounts for this – like whiskey itself, the Irish brought the spelling with them.

But apart from those cultural differences, is there any significance?

Not really. The differences in various forsm of whiskey are more about where they have been produced, regardless of spelling. There are some overlaps between Irish and Scottish whiskies (for example, Scottish whiskey uses peat for smokiness, as do some Irish whiskies – but American whiskey uses wood).

The bottom line? You say whisky, I say whiskey – let’s call the whole thing off and get a drink.