Whisky fans can be extremely spirited (if you’ll pardon the pun), and in whisky circles, there are great debates surrounding the spelling of the word ‘whisky’ or ‘whiskey’, and the differences are between the two.
Well, there is no short and straightforward answer to these questions. So, here is a breakdown of the whisky vs. whiskey debate and the questions that arise from it. Let us know your thoughts and conclusions in the comments below.
Where Does The Word ‘Whisky’ Come From?
The word ‘whisky’ (or ‘whiskey’) derives from the Scottish Gaelic phrase ‘uisge beatha’, meaning ‘water of life’. ‘Uisge beatha’ is itself derived from the Latin phrase ‘aqua vitae’, also meaning ‘water of life’.
It is thought that, over a very long time, the Scottish Gaelic phrase ‘uisge beatha’, (pronounced “oosh-kih beh-ha”) evolved into the word ‘whisky’.
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The Spelling of Whisky vs. Whiskey
So, is it spelled ‘whiskey’ or ‘whisky’? Well, it is both. The spelling of the word depends on the country in which the spirit is produced.
The United States and Ireland use the spelling ‘whiskey’ with an ‘e’. Conversely, Scotland (and the rest of the UK), Canada, Japan, India, and Australia spell it as ‘whisky’. Of course, this list does not exhaust all whisky-producing countries in the world. Any country that begins to produce whisky can essentially choose which spelling they prefer. Most European countries opt for the ‘Scottish’ spelling, perhaps because of close historical, geographical, and political ties to the UK. The same can be said for countries further afield such as Canada and Australia.
The plural forms of these words also differ, with ‘whiskey’ becoming ‘whiskeys’, and ‘whisky’ becoming ‘whiskies’.
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Despite this relatively simple distinction, the origins of the different spellings are disputed. The most common (and accepted) explanation is that the Irish began spelling whisky with an ‘e’ in order to distinguish their product from scotch. This is likely because, in the 1700s, Irish whiskey was much higher quality than scotch whisky. Then, when a host of Irish people emigrated to the United States, they took the spelling with them, as well as their distilling practices.
There are some outliers, of course. Maker’s Mark, for example, uses the ‘Scottish’ spelling even today. And, peppered throughout history are references to ‘whiskey’ from the Scots and ‘whisky’ from the Irish.
Why Do Americans Call Whisky ‘Scotch’?
This is essentially a matter of preference. In Scotland, whisky is referred to as ‘scotch whisky’ or simply ‘whisky’. However, it is very rarely called ‘scotch’.
In the United States, you will most often hear scotch whisky called ‘scotch’. This is technically correct, as it is just a contraction of the word ‘Scottish’, and will be seen on most scotch whisky labels. It is just an easier way to refer to whisky distilled, matured, and bottled in Scotland, according to the rules promoted by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
The Different Types of Whisky
There are many different types of whisky in the world, and to go over all of them here would take a very long time. So, let’s focus on scotch whisky and American whiskey.
Scotch whisky can be divided into five categories. These definitions are according to the SWA:
- Single Grain Scotch Whisky – Distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley with or without grains of other malted or unmalted cereals.
- Blended Grain Scotch Whisky – A blend of single grain scotch whiskies from more than one distillery.
- Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – A blend of single malt scotch whiskies that have been distilled at more than one distillery.
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky – A scotch whisky distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and by batch in copper pot stills.
- Blended Scotch Whisky – A blend of one or more single malt scotch whiskies with one or more single grain whiskies.
There are even more categories for American whiskey. (For a detailed breakdown of the legislation (including the differences between bourbon and whiskey see here). These categories are:
- American Whiskey – An all-encompassing term to describe all whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in the United States of America.
- Bourbon
- Blended Whiskey
- Straight Whiskey
- Light Whiskey
- Oat, Rye, Wheat, Malt, and Rye Malt Whiskey
- Corn Whiskey
- Spirit Whiskey
- American Single Malt Whiskey (designation in progress)
- Tennessee Whiskey
Any whisky-distilling country has the right to impose its own rules and regulations that define what its ‘whisky’ will be. For example, the UK Parliament oversees the laws surrounding scotch whisky, with help from the SWA to enforce these rules. In the United States, the laws are overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, part of the United States Treasury.
Can You Taste The Difference Between Whisky & Whiskey?
Again, this is not such a straightforward answer. Some whisky connoisseurs will say that, yes, you can absolutely taste the difference between whisky and whiskey. However, this does not take into account the incredible number of variations in whisky.
For example, it would be much easier to tell the difference in taste between a single malt scotch whisky and a bourbon. This is because bourbon is distilled from a mash bill of at least 51% corn. As such, it is much sweeter than single malt scotch whisky (distilled from 100% malted barley) due to the higher sugar content in corn. The same can be said for whiskeys such as rye and wheat. The grains used in distillation can have a huge influence on the profile of the spirit.
It might be much harder, however, to taste the difference between a single malt scotch whisky and a single malt Irish whiskey if you are not well-versed in whisky tasting.
Probably the most simple answer in this article: The best way to tell the difference between whisky and whiskey is to read the label on your bottle. Does it distinguish between the two? Where was the whisky distilled, aged, and bottled? Of course, if you are a seasoned whisky taster, you may well be able to taste the intricate differences between the two.
Whisky vs. Whiskey
So, with the technicalities (hopefully) ironed out, I am interested to know what you think. Can you taste the difference between whisky and whiskey whatever the origins? Do you prefer scotch, bourbon, or another type of whisky? Let us know in the comments below.
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