Is it spelled whisky or whiskey

It's not the first time we've been asked here at The Whisky Club about the spelling our Club name, and we're sure it won't be the last. So we’re here to uncover why there's no 'e' in our name. 

The good news is, if you've been stuck in an argument with a mate about whether it's whisky or whiskey, the correct is answer is it’s both! Seriously. Whisky and whiskey are both perfectly correct in the right context. And the spelling of a word on a label has no effect on the contents of the bottle. Let's unravel why...

As a general rule of thumb, if it's made in Ireland or the United States of America then it's whiskey with an e. For all other countries, it's whisky (no e!). So if it's made in Scotland, England, Wales, France, Sweden, India, Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand or Australia? Then you can assume it's whisky without an e. 

Like any general rule, there are outliers but we'll get to that in a minute. First we'll get into the etymology and reasoning behind the differences in spelling so when someone asks you why, you have an answer for them. 

'The water of life'

Whisky and whiskey both derive from the gaelic language. Whisky is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha and the Irish Gaelic uisce beatha – both mean 'water of life'. Funnily enough, both countries claim to have invented the famous spirit circa 1400's with the first record of whisky appearing in Ireland in 1405 and Scotland in 1494, but the evidence suggests it had been sloshing around both countries well before these dates because the first record in Ireland refers to someone who had taken too much, and the first record in Scotland involved Friar John Cor ordering enough barley to make over 100 bottles of Scotch!

The spelling was never really an issue until the of mixing malt and grain whisky together started in 1850. Some Irish distillers hated this practise, so to distinguish their brands, they inserted an 'e' for excellence as one advert put it. During Prohibition, the Irish whiskey industry collapsed (there was a perfect storm of political issues). This led to a consolidation of brands and distillers, and those who used the old spelling 'whisky', were gobbled up. In the 1960s, the last Irish 'whisky' brand changed their spelling.

Consequently, we have the following convention: Ireland uses the 'e', Scotland does not. Everyone else nods to history, ancestry, production methods and in many cases, personal choice.

Whisky

Scotch Whisky

Always spelled without the e, Scotch whisky must adhere to the following rules:

1. Scotch whisky must be matured in oak for a minimum of three years.
2. Scotch must be produced and matured in Scotland.
3. It must be a minimum of 40% ABV.

With over 150 whisky distillleries, Scotland leads the world as the largest whisky producer. 

Learn more about how to make whisky with The Whisky Club's guide to whisky production.

Australian Whisky

Made in the same style as Scotch, our modern Australian whisky industry was kick-started in the 1992 by Bill and Lynn Lark who opened the first modern Australian whisky distillery with Lark. Now there are hundreds of distillers dotted around Tasmania and the mainland, and the vast majority use the Scottish spelling as well as Scottish methods of production. They do only have to mature their whisky for 2 years however.

New Zealand Whisky

Many thought the story of New Zealand whisky ended in 1997 when the last distillery closed its doors. Luckily, they were wrong. Not to be outdone by their friends over the water, New Zealand is home to it's own burgeoning craft whisky industry. With so many Scots settling in NZ over the decades, it is no surprise the Kiwis settled for the Scottish conventions and production methods.

Japanese Whisky

The Japanese whisky industry kicked off properly in 1923 with the founding of Yamazaki distillery. Shinjiro Torri and Masetaka Taketsuru founded Yamazaki after Taketsuru had learned the methods of Scotch production during time in Campbeltown and Speyside. It appears he brought back the Scottish spelling along with their methods for whiskymaking.

Find out more about different whisky industries with The Whisky Club's guide to the major whisky making regions.

Whiskey

Irish Whiskey

These days, Irish whiskey is always spelled with an e. Fans will swear that Irish whiskey has a smoother mouthfeel and more delicate flavours than Scotch whiskies due to the fact most of it's whiskey is triple distillation (most Scotch is double-distilled). There's a number of different styles under the broader Irish whiskey umbrella, some of which have influenced how brands around the world have spelled the word whiskey.

Types of Irish whiskey include:

1. SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY: Irish single pot still whiskey is made exclusively in Ireland (although other distillers around the world are beginning to experiment with the style elsewhere). The name refers to the fact that it must be made at a single distillery, and only using pot stills. Importantly it has a mix of malted and unmalted barley in the mash bill.

2. SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY: Irish whiskey’s governing laws are almost identical to those that rule over Scotch whisky. Two notable exceptions: The Irish can add enzymes to their mash tun and can use any type of wood to mature their whiskey.

3. SINGLE GRAIN WHISKEY: Made from one or a combination of rye, barley, corn and wheat, grain distilling is one of the cheapest ways to produce whiskey as it is often made in a continuous still.

4. BLENDED IRISH WHISKEY: Blended Irish whiskey is by far the most popular type of whiskey from the island and is a blend of at least two different styles of whiskey from the list above, often from more than one distillery.

American Whiskey, including Bourbon

Why do Americans spell whiskey with an e? While distillation style in the USA doesn't follow Ireland, the commonly accepted theory is that the spelling changed from 'whisky' to 'whiskey' when Irish people emigrated en-masse to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Irish had adopted the 'whiskey' spelling to distinguish their product from the blended whiskies in Scotland, and this spelling will have likely followed the diaspora.

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that must be:

1. Made with a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn;
2. aged in new, charred oak barrels;
3. distilled to no more than 160 proof and enters the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof;
4. bottled at 80 proof or more;
5. and made in the United States of American. (Most commonly, Bourbon comes from Kentucky).

Notable exceptions

The rule of geography for whisky/whiskey does of course have exceptions. The most famous exception is Makers Mark – despite being located in the USA, this world-famous Kentucky Straight Bourbon distillery spells its product without an e. This is a nod to the Samuels family's Scottish roots.

We should also call out the great work of Mackey's and Transportation in Tasmania, each showcasing Irish whiskeymaking techniques on the Apple Isle.

And finally, we need to mention our Welsh pals at Penderyn who are most likely to buy a vowel. Their back label shows the traditional Welsh spelling 'wysgy'.

Now you know!

The most important thing, of course, is that the whisk(e)y you have in your glass is enjoyable. If you need a hand with that, The Whisky Club has you covered. 

Join the Club Free today to get your hands on the most incredible malts from around the world, including Club-exclusives by world-renowned distilleries.

What is the difference between whisky and whiskey?

Both spellings are correct. “Whiskey” is used in Ireland and the USA, while “whisky” is used in Scotland and most other whisky‑producing countries including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, France and Canada.

Why do Ireland and the USA use the spelling “whiskey”?

Some Irish distillers began using an “e” for excellence in the mid‑1800s to distinguish their spirits from new Scottish blended whiskies they viewed negatively. As Irish emigrants moved to the United States, the spelling travelled with them, influencing American whiskey’s naming conventions.

Where does the word whisky/whiskey come from?

Both spellings come from Gaelic:

• uisge beatha (Scottish Gaelic)
• uisce beatha (Irish Gaelic)

Both mean “water of life” and date back to at least the 1400s, with Ireland’s first written record appearing in 1405 and Scotland’s in 1494.

Is there a difference in taste between whisky and whiskey?

Taste differences come from production methods, not spelling and there are plenty of examples of Irish and Scotch whiskies historically using both spellings for advertising or brand purposes.

However, historically:

• Irish whiskey is often triple‑distilled, leading to a smoother, lighter mouthfeel.
• Scotch whisky is typically double‑distilled, often producing richer, heavier flavours.

But the spelling itself has no effect on flavour.

Why does Scotch whisky never include an “e”?

Historically, most brands used the spelling of whisky without the 'e'. It wasn't until the mixing and blending of malt and grain whisky that some Irish distillers (who opposed the practice) started to use the spelling 'whiskey' to distinguish their own spirits from the Scottish blends.

Why do Japan, Australia and New Zealand use the spelling “whisky”?

All three industries were heavily influenced by Scottish production traditions.

• Japanese whisky began with Taketsuru’s training in Campbeltown and Speyside.
• Australia’s modern whisky revival was built on Scottish-style methods.
• New Zealand’s distilling history has strong Scottish immigration roots.

Thus, all use the Scotch spelling.

What spelling does America use, and why?

The United States predominantly uses “whiskey”, influenced by Irish immigration.  

Are there exceptions to the whisky/whiskey rule?

Yes:

• Maker’s Mark (USA) uses “whisky” as a nod to its Scottish heritage.
• Penderyn (Wales) uses the Welsh spelling “wysgy.”
• Tasmanian distillers Mackey’s and Transportation produce Irish-style whiskey in Australia.

Why did Irish whiskey spelling consolidate in the 20th century?

After major political and economic struggles including prohibition led to distillery closures, Irish producers consolidated to keep their industry afloat, and by the 1960s all remaining brands had switched fully to the “whiskey” spelling. 

Does spelling indicate quality?

No, despite what the Irish whiskey makers said in the 19th century. Back then, it would have indicated the difference between a blended Scotch and a pot still or single malt whiskey, but blended whiskies can be just as good as malts. The rapid expansion of blended Scotch as a category is proof of this.

A whisk(e)y labeled “whiskey” is not inherently different or superior to one labeled “whisky.”