To mark Saint Patrick’s Day, we’re taking a look at a spelling problem with deep connections to Ireland: whether to write ‘whiskey’ or ‘whisky’. So are these terms interchangeable? Or is there a difference? And what does this have to do with Ireland anyway? Let us explain!
Whisky (we will default to this spelling to save repeating ourselves too much) is a distilled alcoholic drink made from malted grain. It is widely associated with two countries: Scotland and Ireland. Both have a long history of distilling whisky, but the word itself comes from Ireland.
In particular, it comes from Old Irish term uisge beatha, meaning ‘water of life’. This is the Irish version of aqua vitae, which was the Latin word for distilled alcohol of any kind (not just whisky). Eventually, uisge beatha entered English and was anglicised to become ‘whisky’ or ‘whiskey’.
Why two spellings, though? This may have started as a matter of regional preference. The story most people tell is that, during the 19th century, Irish distillers wanted to distinguish their product from their Scottish competitors.
As such, they started using the spelling ‘whiskey’ for Irish whiskey. Scottish whisky, meanwhile, became known as Scotch whisky.
We see this Irish–Scottish division in modern spellings around the world:
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This is not a strict distinction, though. As such, while ‘whiskey’ is standard in America, you will also find distillers who call their products ‘whisky’. For instance, Maker’s Mark uses the spelling ‘whisky’ to recognise the Scottish heritage of company founder Bill Samuel.
Some people say there are differences between ‘whiskey’ and ‘whisky’, such as the distillation process or the type of still used. Most of the time, though, ‘whiskey’ and ‘whisky’ are just different spellings of the same word. And as such, they are often used interchangeably.
However, if you want to avoid upsetting drink geeks, remember:
So the correct spelling depends on where your favoured tipple comes from. And if you want a Saint Patrick’s Day drink that won’t cause spelling headaches, you can always try Guinness instead.
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