It’s a debate as old as time. And no, we aren’t talking about the right way to pronounce the word “pecan.” We’re discussing the debate over spelling the name of one of the world’s most popular spirits. Is it “whiskey,” or is the proper spelling “whisky?”
Few things are more annoying to whiskey drinkers than someone mistakenly spelling the spirit whiskey when it should be spelled as whisky. If you’re new to the spirit, you might not understand why this is a big deal. Well, it is.
If you stroll down the aisles at your local liquor store and glance at random bottles, you’ll see bourbons and other American-made spirits labeled as whiskey. But single malt Scotch is labeled as whisky. This might make you scratch your head. Why does Scotland drop the “e?”
Well, you don’t have to wonder about it anywhere or hear your uncle’s theories around the holiday table because we’re here to set the record straight. We’re finally going to end the debate of whiskey vs. whisky.
In the simplest terms, there is no difference. Whiskey and whisky are the same spirit. Both have a base of fermented grains distilled and matured in oak barrels. The difference between whiskey and whisky revolves around only one thing: location. Depending on the country in which the whisk(e)y is produced, it will either have the ‘e’ added or not. Spoiler alert: Only three countries refer to this spirit as whiskey, and one of them is the U.S. (neither of the other two is Canada).
However, it is worth mentioning that certain regions prefer different spellings. Since different areas produce different styles of whiskey, this can sometimes lead to confusion. Below, we’ve broken down which countries use which spelling (and what the plural of that spelling is).
Whisky vs. Whiskey: The differences explained
When to use whisky
Countries that use this spelling: Scotland, Japan, Canada, Australia, England, Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden, India, Israel, Taiwan, Wales, Germany
Plural of whisky: whiskies
When to use whiskey
Countries that use this spelling: Ireland, U.S., Mexico
Plural of whiskey: whiskeys
While the above breakdown is a good place to start, this is not the end-all, be-all, as there are certain American brands of whisky (such as Maker’s Mark and George Dickel) that spell the word without the ‘e.’ This derivation from the rule does not, however, usually go the other way.
Got it?
Now, it’s time to actually enjoy the stuff and stop talking semantics (though if you want to keep doing that, go right ahead — we’re going to pour ourselves a few fingers). Check out our picks for the best bourbons and American single malt whiskeys.
If Scotch is more your thing, try these blended Scotch whiskies. Irish whiskey fiend? We’ve got you covered, too.
Bottom line
If you want to explore the difference between whiskey and whisky more deeply, you should consider why some countries (U.S., Ireland, and Mexico) use the “e” and so many others don’t. The difference began with the Gaelic name for whisky, “Uisce Beatha,” which translates to “water of life.”
In the 19th century, Irish distillers were tired of lesser-quality Scotch whiskies being brought into the country. To differentiate between the whiskey of their homeland and the whisky produced in Scotland, they added an “e.”
This is also why whiskey made in the U.S. is spelled with an “e.” In the 1800s, Irish immigrants began distilling whiskey in the U.S. and (not surprisingly) used the “e” in whiskey, which became the norm for U.S. whiskey makers.
