Whisky or Whiskey? Which Spelling Is Correct, and Why

Whisky or whiskey: the short answer

Both are correct. The spelling tells you where the spirit comes from, not how good it is.

• Whisky (no e): Scotland, Wales, England, Canada, Japan and India.
• Whiskey (with an e): Ireland and most of the United States.

The easy way to remember it: Ireland and the United States have an e in their names, and so does their whiskey. The plural follows the same pattern, giving whiskies and whiskeys.

What the labels actually say

The country rule is a good guide, but the label is the final word. Here is what 15 well-known bottles print on theirs.

The last four are the ones that catch people out. They are American, but they use the Scottish spelling on purpose, usually as a nod to the founders' heritage. They are not misprints.

The twist: US law spells it whisky

Here is the detail most spelling guides miss. The United States may be the home of whiskey with an e, but its federal labelling rules use whisky. When the US regulator formalised the spelling in 1968, it chose "whisky" as the official form and allowed "whiskey" out of respect for tradition.

That is why American producers can choose either. Most follow the Irish-influenced "whiskey", but brands like Maker's Mark are just as correct with "whisky".

Why there are two spellings

You'll often read that Irish distillers added the e in the 19th century because Scotch had a poor reputation. It makes a good story, but the reality is messier.

Both words come from the Gaelic uisge beatha (Scottish) and uisce beatha (Irish), meaning "water of life". For most of the 19th century, spelling was inconsistent everywhere. Some Scottish distillers wrote whiskey, some Irish distillers wrote whisky, and American newspapers used both. The "e" became more common among Irish distillers towards the end of the century, and the neat country-by-country split only settled in the 20th century as labels, laws and style guides fixed it.

Even now it isn't fully settled. In 2008 the New York Times printed "whiskey" throughout an article about Scotch, following its own style guide. Readers complained, and the paper changed its rules to use "whisky" for Scotch and Canadian.

Does the spelling change the taste?

No. An e doesn't make whiskey smoother or whisky smokier. The differences in the glass come from how the spirit is made: the grain, the still, the cask and the local rules.

Bourbon tastes different from Scotch because of its corn-heavy mash bill and new charred oak, which we cover in bourbon vs whiskey. Irish whiskey's smooth reputation comes largely from triple distillation, explained in what is Irish whiskey. The spelling just tells you which tradition you're drinking from.

Which spelling should you use?

• Writing about a specific drink: match its country, or better, copy the label.
• Writing about the spirit in general: pick one and stay consistent. UK and Commonwealth writers usually choose whisky; American writers usually choose whiskey.
• On this site: we use whisky as our default and whiskey for Irish and American bottles, which is why you'll see both.

If you're here because you've got a bottle to try, our guide to the best Irish whiskeys and our non-peated Scotch whisky brands are good next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Is it whisky or whiskey?

Both are correct. Whisky is used in Scotland, Wales, Canada, Japan and India. Whiskey is used in Ireland and most of the US.

Is it whisky or whiskey in the UK?

Whisky. Scotch dominates in the UK, and the Scotch Whisky Regulations use that spelling. Use whiskey only for Irish or American bottles.

Is bourbon whisky or whiskey?

Usually whiskey, as on 1792 or Buffalo Trace. But Maker's Mark and Old Forester use whisky, and US regulations treat both as correct.

Why does Ireland spell it whiskey?

Irish distillers increasingly used the e from the late 19th century, and it became the standard in the 20th. Oddly, Irish whiskey's protected name still allows "Irish whisky" as an alternative, though almost no one uses it.

What is the plural of whisky and whiskey?

Whiskies for whisky, and whiskeys for whiskey.