Whiskey or Whisky? The E Tells You Where It Is From
Whiskey is a spirit distilled from grain. The spelling is not a mistake, it is a country of origin.
Whiskey is a spirit distilled from fermented grain mash and aged in wood. The two spellings are a reliable map: Ireland and the United States generally write *whiskey*, while Scotland, Canada and Japan write *whisky*. The word itself is Gaelic for water of life, shortened almost beyond recognition.
- A grain spirit. *A glass of whiskey.*
- A serving of it. *Two whiskeys, please.*
- Whiskey in the phonetic alphabet. *Whiskey Tango.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | whiskey | Irish whiskey. |
| Plural | whiskeys | Rare whiskeys. |
| Variant | whisky | Scotch whisky. |
| Plural | whiskies | Island whiskies. |
| Related | distillery | A working distillery. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Scotch whisky must be aged three years.By law.
- Bourbon is aged in new charred oak.American rule.
- Whiskey is W in the phonetic alphabet.NATO spelling alphabet.
Kinds of whiskey
- Scotch — Scottish, at least three years in oak
- Bourbon — American, mostly maize, new charred oak barrels
- Rye — sharper, made largely from rye grain
- Irish — often triple distilled and smooth
- Single malt — from malted barley at one distillery
From Irish *uisce beatha* and Scottish Gaelic *uisge beatha*, water of life, a translation of Latin *aqua vitae*. English clipped the first word into *whisky*.
Whiskey or whisky?
Whiskey for Ireland and the United States, whisky for Scotland, Canada and Japan. Follow the origin of the drink you are naming.
What does the name mean?
Water of life, from Gaelic. Several European spirits carry the same idea, including *eau de vie* and *aquavit*.