Whisky Vs Whiskey

Most people, even those who don’t imbibe, are familiar with the general concept of “whiskey.” A typically amber colored fluid of varying color and potency which happens to be one of the most popular distilled spirits in the world. Even though it’s popularity is widespread, just about everyone is confused by the slippery spelling.

Americans drink Whiskey

There really is more of a difference between whiskey and whisky than one elusive vowel would suggest. The history of the beverage is complex. Because the distilling methods are relatively easy, it gets made virtually everywhere and the differences between regional styles are endless.

That’s why some nations “have strict laws and conventions” that determine how the product is made and marketed. One of those differences is the spelling.

Confusing all the computer spell checkers, both versions are correct but it “all comes down to where it’s made.”

As explained by expert bartender Samuel Houston, “In the United States and Ireland, it is spelled ‘whiskey.’ In Scotland and the rest of the world, it’s spelled ‘whisky.'”

In Ireland, where they spell it correctly as Whiskey like we do here in America, they invented the godly nectar back in the 15th century. When the sneaky Scots managed to steal the secret, they ended up spelling it funny because of “small differences in the Gaelic dialects spoken in both places.”

Over the years, “the two distinct spellings became entrenched, and each region simultaneously developed its own unique styles.”

One spelling or the other

Today, the nations which produce the spirit for export are Ireland, Scotland, the United States, Canada, and Japan. Each had to pick a spelling and stick with it.

Ireland and the U.S. chose the original Whiskey while Canada and Japan adopted the Scotch Whisky approach. All of our traditions come from the original formulas of Ireland and Scotland.

“In the early days of the United States, Scottish and Irish immigrants brought their distilling expertise with them and began to distill whiskey almost right away.” At first, the two spellings were used interchangeably and nobody seemed to mind.

Because of all the Irish immigrants to America, the version with the “e” soon began to predominate. Meanwhile, the Canadians were getting their supply from the Scots through the U.K. suppliers.

When Japan decided to open their first distillery, they were heavily influenced by Scotland. That came about because Masataka Taketsuru returned from an apprenticeship in Scotland just before co-founding the Yamazaki Distillery.

Whiskey and whisky taste different too. Scotch is made mostly from barley and “tends to be aged longer.” Meanwhile, Irish whiskey “is sweeter and has more of a malt character.” Here in the U.S. we produce bourbon and rye. Each of those “has a strict set of rules dictating how they are produced.”