Whisky vs. Whiskey - spelling and origin

Sylvia Simm | 20. December 2024

Have you ever stumbled across the two different spellings of whisky and whiskey? Why is Whisky.de spelled without an 'e', while many bottles are labelled "Whiskey"?

It's the countries where the whisky or whiskey comes from that determine the spelling!

In Germany, American whiskeys such as Jim Beam or Jack Daniel's are widespread. They spell "Whiskey" with an 'e'. In contrast, the best-known Scottish brand, Johnnie Walker, uses the spelling whisky.

Here you can find out what this is all about and where the difference comes from.

Table of content

Background

But why are there two different spellings for our favourite drink?

The answer is simple: the spelling of whisky or whiskey simply depends on which country you are in. In Scotland it is spelt without an "e", in Ireland with an "e". There is also a difference in the New World: Americans spell it with an 'e', Canadians without an 'e'. As Canada is also part of the British Commonwealth, this is not surprising.

Germany and Japan have also adapted to the Scottish spelling and distil whisky without the 'e'. As many Irish people emigrated to the USA because of the potato blight and therefore a lot of Irish whiskey found its way across the Atlantic, it is also logical that the spelling with an 'e' prevailed in the USA.

Short rule on spelling

Whisky: Scotland, Canada, Germany, Japan

Whiskey: Ireland, USA:

Exceptions prove the rule: some US brands such as Maker's Mark or George Dickel deliberately spell their whiskey without an 'e'.

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Video by Horst Lüning on the spelling of whisky from 2013

Where does the word 'Whisky' originally come from?

Uisge beatha - water of life

Originally, the term 'whisky' comes from the Scottish Gaelic 'uisge beatha' (pronounced: uschke baha), which means 'water of life'. Over the course of time and through sound shifts, the Gaelic word developed into the current name.

Whisky and Whiskey - The spelling

Have you ever stumbled across the two different spellings of whisky and whiskey? Apparently Whisky.de is spelt without an 'e'. However, many of the bottles we send out are labelled Whiskey with an 'e'. What's the difference? Here you can find out why we differentiate between the two spellings.

A dispute between Scotland and Ireland

The difference in spelling arose from a dispute between Irish and Scottish whisky producers. Until the 19th century, whisky was produced exclusively in pot stills and spelt without an 'e'. With the invention of the column still in 1826, it was possible to distil more cheaply and continuously, resulting in a softer distillate.

Irish producers rejected this method and did not consider it to be "real" whisky.

The birth of Whiskey

In 1909, a commission decided that blended whisky and column still whisky could also be labelled as "whisky". Irish producers were dissatisfied and began to differentiate themselves by using the spelling "whiskey".

Prohibition and its consequences for Whiskey!

In 1919, Prohibition in the USA exacerbated the situation for Irish whiskey producers, as exports to the most important markets - the USA and the British Commonwealth - ceased. To save costs, Irish producers also switched to cheaper column still production. Nevertheless, the spelling "whiskey" remained.

Today, Scottish whisky production is once again focussing more on pot stills, while this proportion remains low in Ireland. However, the different spelling - whisky in Scotland, whiskey in Ireland - has not changed.

How is the plural of Whisky or Whiskey spelt?

Short and sweet:

The plural depends on the region and language:

  • In British English: whiskies
  • In American English: whiskeys
  • In German (according to Duden): Whiskys

 

In English lessons, we learnt that words ending in '-y' form the plural with the ending '-ies'. In Scotland and England we also write 'whiskies', in the USA we don't, but 'whiskeys'. This is due to the exception in this spelling rule that an 'ey' is not converted into an 'ies'.

Why do we now always write 'whiskys' on Whisky.de, although it should actually be 'whiskies'? It's because of the German language. As we naturally write in German, we also write the plural of whisky in German, simply with an added '-s': whiskys - as it is also written in the Duden dictionary.

Conclusion

Whisky or Whiskey - which is right?

Whether you decide in favour of whisky or whiskey depends on which country you prefer. Both variants are correct and reflect different traditions. Enjoy your whisky - or whiskey - just the way you like it!

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Sylvia Simm is an experienced employee of Whisky.de. After more than 20 years in online sales and service, she supports the company with her extensive whisky knowledge in marketing. As online editor and content manager, she is responsible for editing and updating the texts on the knowledge pages.

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