Mmmm. Whiskey.

[Mike from Boston]

Do any of you experts out there know the difference between Whiskey and Whisky? Just an old spelling or is there some significance?

[Smoz]

Do any of you experts out there know the difference between Whiskey and Whisky? Just an old spelling or is there some significance?

Whisky comes from from Scotland
Whiskey comes from from Ireland

[DzM]

Could you not get some on-line links up that could give some money back to this site.

I appreciate the thought but you needn't worry. The raft floats along on its own. Enjoy your whiskey guilt-free.

[Low D]

Do any of you experts out there know the difference between Whiskey and Whisky? Just an old spelling or is there some significance?

Whisky comes from from Scotland
Whiskey comes from from Ireland

Bourbon and Canadian Rye use the "ey" as well. As far as I know, actually, it's only Irish Whisky that DOESN'T use the "e".

It's also worth noting that Irish whiskey is traditionally triple-distilled, while most scotches, etc, are only twice-distilled. This means it is ever so much more free of impurities, and less likely to hang you over (Just sayin'.... drink responsibly ya'll!)

[Hennybhoy]

Bourbon and Canadian Rye use the "ey" as well. As far as I know, actually, it's only Irish Whisky that DOESN'T use the "e".

You mean Scotch doesn't use the "ey"

[Pogues to Niagara]

I've always found that most Canadian and Scottish whiskies are spelt "whisky" and most American and Irish whiskies are spelt "whiskey".
Probably something to do with the Scots being a huge cultural/political influence in Canada and the Irish in America?

I've seen it written elsewhere.........as a general rule, if the country has an "e" in it's name so does it's whisky/whiskey.
It's 8:15am here and I'm now thirsty.

[Low D]

Bourbon and Canadian Rye use the "ey" as well. As far as I know, actually, it's only Irish Whisky that DOESN'T use the "e".

You mean Scotch doesn't use the "ey"

Must've been drinking when i typed that

[DzM]

Bourbon and Canadian Rye use the "ey" as well. As far as I know, actually, it's only Irish Whisky that DOESN'T use the "e".

You mean Scotch doesn't use the "ey"

Must've been drinking when i typed that

You sure the Canadian rye doesn't use the "eh" instead of the "ey?"

"Whiskeh and poutine!"

[Pogue to Niagara]

Interesting story.....
In 1867 over a few whiskies Canada's founding fathers gathered in a Montreal tavern to discuss a name for the new country.
After some ridiculous suggestions, Sir John A Macdonald suggested picking letters out of a top hat to form the name of the country.
The others drunkenly agreed and Sir John picked.....
C eh!
N eh!
D eh!
and Canada had a name......true story.

[Smoz]

There are a few English distilleries making whisk(e)y, some seem to spell it with an e others don't. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_whisky

I only know of one Welsh distillery, Penderyn. They make very good whisky and don't include an e in the spelling.

[Tal]

Just to add fire to the e or no e in Whiskey / Whisky.

Around 1870, Scotch whisky was (claimed to be)..of very low quality, much of it being distilled poorly in Coffey stills & for export overseas (e.g. to America).
Large & continuous quantity batches with little need for cleaning the still . As opposed to small single batch stills that needed cleaning of the still after each small batch.Profit & quantity before taste.Made worse with the increased use of blended whisky or cheap Scotch.
Where as Irish distillers wanted to differentiate their product from the poorer Scotch/ whisky, thus they added the ‘e’ to mark the crucial distinction.
Today, Scotch /whisky has changed its quality issues but keeps the spelling difference for scotch & high quality whiskey.Even if for export.

Could well be simply a case of poor translation from 'Latin . Irish Gaelic or Scottish Gaelic to Bastardised or bastardized English. ( uisce bheatha / usquebaugh )

Perversely it may be the case in some US states it is a legal question as regards the spelling. Whisky being legal . ( not sure of this one.) But most USA whiskey is spelt with a e.

Sure there are loads of exceptions to this but that's life .Or more to the point water of life / usquebaugh / uisce beatha.

aqua vitae


Please do not ask for a whiskey with a E in it as this may lead to a interesting night out.

[Low D]

Please do not ask for a whiskey with a E in it as this may lead to a interesting night out.

And indeed, Wiki tells me that in fact it's only Irish with the "e"... except for the many times when it isn't!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky#Na ... _spellings

[Pogues to Niagara]

There seems to be some grey/gray area here.

[Hennybhoy]

Anyone else on this raft that had the chance to have a glass (or two) of The Pogues Irish Whiskey right now? Would love to hear your opinions....

As mentioned it is available in Germany for about 2 weeks now so I had a few glasses (bottles.....) and have to say I really really like it (and I'm not saying that because it's fromThe Pogues)

Sláinte!

[Pogues to Niagara]

No Hennybhoy......I don't think it's available this side of the Atlantic yet. I'd love to have a bottle!
Enjoy!