Cheaper, inferior Scottish spirit subsequently flooded the market and the more costly, superior Irish whisky took a beating. Some Irish distillers, in a Canutean stand, needed to make a point of difference thus the e was added. It was merely a marketing affectation.
Up until then, the extra 'e' was being flung around as if at a rave in the 1990s. Some distillers – be they in Scotland, Ireland, or the US – used the 'e'. Others didn't. It is widely believed that during the 19th century, Ireland's distillers began to use the 'e' as a way to differentiate their whiskeys from Scotch.
To make a long explanation short, whiskey (with an 'e') refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States. Whisky (with no 'e') refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits.
Irish whiskey is always spelled with an e – this is a key difference between Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky. Irish whiskey uses little or no peat, so there is usually no smokiness in these whiskies. Irish whiskey may contain a distillate of malt, a barley distillate and a portion of grain spirit.
In modern usage, whisky is from Scotland and whiskey is from Ireland. The difference comes from the translation of words from the Scottish and Irish Gaelic forms.
In general, it's pretty easy to remember who favours what spelling: Ireland and the U.S.: whiskey. Everywhere else (including Scotland, England, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Finland, Germany, and Iceland): whisky.
Whisky (no e) refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits. Whiskey (with an e) refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.
Over time, it became known as whiskey. In the Irish dialect, that meant an “ey” to end the word, and in the Scottish dialect that meant only a “y.” The oldest licensed distillery in the world, Ireland's Old Bushmills Distillery, has always spelled it with an “e.” From there, the divide split along colonial lines.
The term 'whisky' derives originally from the Gaelic 'uisge beatha', or 'usquebaugh', meaning 'water of life'.
Irish whiskey (Irish: Fuisce or uisce beatha) is whiskey made on the island of Ireland. The word 'whiskey' (or whisky) comes from the Irish uisce beatha, meaning water of life.
Whiskey (whisky) on the other hand can be made anywhere. Bourbon is made in America while Scotch Bourbon is only made, you've guessed it, north of Hadrien's Wall. If you're in England or Scotland and order a whiskey you'll most probably get a Scotch. If you're in Ireland, you'll get an Irish whiskey.
Why is the "Whisky" in your name spelled without an "E"? Fireball Cinnamon Whisky traces its roots back to the cold land of Canada, where “whisky” is spelled without the letter E and people ride “toboggans” instead of sleds.
As some stories have it, the Irish actually brought the art of distilling to Scotland, where the locals ran with it. Another story involves a guy named Friar John Cor. Apparently a 1494 tax record for his order of “VIII bolls of malt” is the first recorded reference to whisky production in Scotland.
The Creature
Irish term that is arguably one of the darkest street names for alcohol. Used to to refer to alcohol as a “creature” that can bring your dark side out and change your personality if you play with it.
It is spelled “whisky”—without the e—in Scotland, Canada, and in several other countries. This “rule” wasn't fixed until the 20th century. Up until then, the extra 'e' was used inconsistently.
Scotch whisky (Scottish Gaelic: uisge-beatha; Scots: Scots whisky/whiskie, whusk(e)y, pronounced [ˈʍɪski], often simply called whisky or Scotch) is malt whisky or grain whisky (or a blend of the two), made in Scotland. All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley.
The Scots Irish, also known as Scotch Irish (especially in USA) or Ulster Scots (especially in Northern Ireland), are an ethnic group found in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland Genealogy.
It was not until a century later, following the surge in Irish immigration after the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s, that the descendants of the earlier arrivals began to commonly call themselves "Scotch-Irish" to distinguish themselves from the newer, poor, predominantly Catholic immigrants.
What Bourbon does Jon Wick drink? Keanu Reeves' character definitely has expensive taste, from stylish cars to flashy weaponry, and of course his drink of choice. John Wick is seen drinking a bottle of Blanton's at the Continental hotel, following a good old fashioned gunfight.
The only whisky distillery to currently hold a Royal Warrant is Laphroaig. It was granted on a visit to the distillery by Prince Charles in 1994. Considering Charles is the current Lord of the Isles, it is of course only fitting for him to bestow his personal patronage on an Islay distillery.
Bottled in Bond or Bonded: Kind of like “Single Malt,” but a bit more to it. A bourbon made at one distillery in one season, aged a minimum 4 years in a federally bonded, supervised warehouse.
More popular traditional Irish drinks. The second section of our guide looks at some of the more famous Irish alcohol brands, many of which are some of the most popular drinks in Ireland. Below, you'll find everything from Jameson and Drumshambo to some other tasty Irish bar drinks.