Whether you call it whiskey or whisky, there’s always a reason to enjoy a dram. All over the world, people who enjoy whiskey get asked why they want something that “burns” or “just tastes like alcohol”.

As everybody has reasons for drinking, collecting and sharing the “Water of Life”, it’s always a good idea to find out why we drink it and why it’s so iconic.

Great conversation starter

It doesn’t matter if the person you’re talking to is a whiskey enthusiast or new to the amber spirit; the topic alone provides you with a starting point.

The question of their whiskey preference or if you can pour them a drink can turn into many topics. It can be as simple as “Yes, please” to find out it’s their favourite or something they’ve never tried. It opens up the opportunity to share stories of past experiences with whiskey, mini reviews of what’s in the glass, and reminiscing about non-whiskey topics while having a good laugh, and sipping something delicious.

The history of whiskey

Whisk(e)y has a long and storied history that started about a thousand years ago. Still, the last couple of hundred years are what we usually think about. It originated in Scotland and Ireland before spreading to Europe and the Americas. However, it’s the individual histories of distilleries like Jack Daniel and how a man known as Uncle Nearest taught him how to make whiskey.

There’s also our history with whiskey, including how we started drinking it, enjoying it, sometimes taking a different path, and hopping back on the whiskey train later on. These stories bring us together while making new memories that will become the tales we turn into our new histories down the road.

Variety

There is an enormous amount of whiskey worldwide and subcategories within well-known regions to which we often flock. Part of this whiskey journey comes from somewhere, and the real journey begins when we start colouring outside those lines and take the journey elsewhere. Sometimes, you can be the guide, helping a friend, new or old, try something they’ve never had before and in the past, that person was once you.

It can be as simple as trying Speyside Scotch whiskey like Glenfiddich to trying a heavily peated Islay Scotch like Laphroaig. Or, you can be a bourbon drinker trying out a Scottish single malt or Japanese whiskey for the first time.

The options are almost endless, and the variety keeps us on track.

Versatility

There will always be those who are hard-line neat whiskey drinkers, but we all know that “the best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink, the way you like to drink it”, according to the Whiskey Tribe.

So, whether you like a block of ice and/or Coke with your drink or make a cocktail, of which there are hundreds of whiskey versions, anybody can enjoy any of the many varieties of whiskey the world has to offer without judgment.

It’s time to relax

There are those days when you want a bit of joy. Whether you’re about to sit down after a very long day and watch the sunset or about to meet some friends at the pub, whiskey has a way of calming the mind and making you feel better. Whether it’s just a flavour you love or that common reaction to alcohol, whiskey will provide the mood for relaxation.

Whiskey is well-loved and iconic, not just because of its history as the water of life but also because of the memories we make while enjoying it.

We all have different reasons to drink whiskey and explore this historic spirit. Still, one thing is for sure: it’s always best enjoyed with great people.