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The Difference Between Whiskey And Whisky

Sometimes whiskey is spelled whiskey with an “e” and sometimes without. So which is it, and what is the difference in whiskey versus whisky?
  • Hannah Thompson is a specialist whiskey educator and writer, passionate about bringing stories and understanding to more people.
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Whether you’re browsing your local liquor store or exploring our selection of articles here on The Whiskey Wash, you’ll likely notice that sometimes whiskey is spelled whiskey with an “e” and sometimes without. So which is it, and what is the difference in whiskey versus whisky?

On The Whiskey Wash we use both terms depending on which whiskey making region we’re talking about.

When To Use The E In Whiskey

Scotland has historically spelled “whisky” without an “e,” and this was common until the 19th century, when Irish distillers wanted to differentiate their product from their Scottish competitors. Irish whiskey makers took their spelling with them when they emigrated and so whiskey is the spelling that tends to be used for American and Irish whiskies.

As well as Scotland the other countries that tend to use “whisky” without the ‘e’ are Canada, Japan and India. Again this reflects their shared heritage in spirit-making traditions, as these are regions that tended to adopt Scottish whisky making practices, and the associated spelling.

Barrels Of Whiskey

These resources on The Whiskey Wash are designed to give you more information on buying barrels of scotch. Where we’re talking about wide themes and whiskey in general we use “whiskey” but if we’re specifically referencing a type of whiskey we will use whatever spelling the region adopts., eg. scotch whisky or Irish whiskey.

If you want to buy a barrel through The Whiskey Wash then we will generally be talking about barrels of scotch whisky, because that is what is offered by our colleagues at Mark Littler Ltd.

Ready to learn more? For detailed insights and expert tips to help you navigate your whiskey investment journey download the comprehensive Whisky Barrel Buying Guide written by the team at Mark Littler Ltd.

Our colleagues over at Mark Littler Ltd have curated their most helpful articles all in one place so you can learn more about buying and owning a barrel of scotch. If you’d like to find out more about moving forward with a barrel purchase please email [email protected].

Returns on whiskey barrels are not guaranteed and the value of casks can go down as well as up.

A Note On Cask Ownership From Mark Littler, The Whiskey Wash Editor-In-Chief

Scotch whisky casks are a long-term commitment — think 10 to 30 years, not a medium-term investment with an easy exit. The only reliable path to value is buying young spirit and giving it time. There are no magic years, no guaranteed returns, and no shortcuts.
Casks sold through Mark Littler Ltd or other partners involve full legal title transfer via a warehouse-acknowledged Delivery Order. These are physical assets, not managed funds, so they fall outside FCA or SEC regulation — and outside any government compensation scheme.

Buy a cask because you love whisky and believe in what it can become. Not because someone promised you a return.

Read our full editorial guidelines on cask investment here.

Hannah Thompson

Hannah Thompson is a whiskey educator who helps consumers understand everything they need to know to make an informed decision about whiskey investment. She has been working in the secondary whiskey market since 2019 and joined The Whiskey Wash team when Mark Littler took over as Editor in Chief. Working with Mark Littler Hannah has amassed a broad range of whiskey knowledge and specializes in helping consumers make education driven cask investments. Hannah has authored two published works of fiction and her background in research and creative writing lets her create interesting and informative articles to give people a solid understanding of the world of whiskey.

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