Whiskey...or is it whisky?

Being from Kentucky (and partially because of another Goon Squad member's post ) I decided to be a little informative on one of my favorite drinks; whiskey...or is it whisky?

Both are correct. Whiskey is used for Ireland and the United States. Whisky is used for Scotland, Canada, Wales, and other countries. On top of that, there's different types of whiskey; Scotch, Irish, Tennessee, Rye, and what's popular around my neck of the woods, Bourbon.

Whiskey has been around for literally thousands of years.
It started as a purification, like in medical treatments and perfumes. It spread through Europe, and when it reached Scotland things get interesting. This is also where me watching copious amounts of television on alcohols helps in me writing this.
(James May Drinks to Britain)

In the early 1700s, in Scotland, there were few grapes in Scotland so they used barley. And when they distilled the beer it came out at 200 proof and clear. Sounds like moonshine, and it was! Scotland decided to tax all distillers so a lot of them went "underground". They distilled in the hills at night to conceal the smoke from the stills. And the smoke shined off the moon light deeming it, moonshine.

Now, the now whisky is aged in barrels over 3-ever how many years they feel like it needs to age. And the colors from the barrel is where whisky gets it's brown color from. And the aging process brings down a lot of the alcohol by volume.

During the '20s in America, when prohibition was strong, only one pharmacy chain was allowed to sell alcohol; Walgreens. They were allowed to sell it as a cleansing agent for medical purposes. Much like marijuana today in cases.

I could go on but it would take me a book to write it.