Whiskey & Whisky
November 4, 2023The Irish and the Scots argue over who first distilled whiskey. The Irish are currently in the lead with the first written record of Whiskey appearing in the Irish Annuals of Clonmacnoise in 1405; the Scotts have written documentation of Whisky making in an Exchequer Roll entry dating to 1494.[1]Irish Whiskey Museum. “It’s true, whiskey originated with Ireland”, Accessed December 6, 2021. https://punchdrink.com/articles/new-japanese-whisky-rules-regulations/
Why the Irish have an “e” in whiskey, and the Scottish do not, is some long forgotten artifact of the differences between the Irish language and the languages of Scotland. Prior to commonality of English, Scotts spoke Scots and/or Scottish Gaelic.[2]Pons-Sanz, S. and MacCoinnich, A. (2018) ‘The Languages of Scotland’. In: Royan, N. (ed.) The International Companion to Scottish Literature, 1400-1650. Series: International companions to … Continue reading Scottish Gaelic and the Irish Language are both Goidelic languages and have a common ancestor. The Scots Language (also called Lowland Scots or Broad Scots) is a West Germanic language.[3]Spangenberg, Lisa L. “What are the Celtic Languages?”. Last modified January 22, 2010. https://www.digitalmedievalist.com/opinionated-celtic-faqs/celtic-languages/ The questioned absence of the “e” is the result of these language mixtures. Some people attribute the difference in spelling to an effort by Irish producers to differentiate their whiskey from the “inferior” Scottish Whisky.[4]McDiarmid, Archie . “Why is it spelled ‘whisky’ in Scotland but ‘whiskey’ in Ireland?”. Last modified February 27, 2019. … Continue reading
Eventually the Americans adapted the Irish spelling of whiskey; the rest of the English speaking world adapted the Scottish spelling.[5]Hanes, Nick. “Why Is Whiskey Spelled Differently in Different Countries?”, Last modified October 5, 2017. https://vinepair.com/articles/difference-whiskey-vs-whisky/ Other than the spelling, we are talking about the same spirt.
The spelling of the word Whiskey is not a hard and fast rule in most countries. Regulations from the Irish Department of Agriculture, Foods, and the Marine identifies the general classification as “Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach/Irish Whisky”; [6]The Government of Ireland Department of Agriculture, Foods, and the Marine. Technical File Setting out the Specifications with which Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha/Irish Whisky must comply (October … Continue reading however, the same regulations in setting the requirements for varieties of “Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach /Irish Whisky” always spells whiskey with an “e”:[7]The Government of Ireland Department of Agriculture, Foods, and the Marine. Technical File Setting out the Specifications with which Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha/Irish Whisky must comply (October … Continue reading
- “Pot Still Irish Whiskey/Irish Pot Still Whiskey”,
- “Malt Irish Whiskey/ Irish Malt Whiskey”
- “Blended Irish Whiskey/Irish Blended Whiskey”
The Scottish Government on the other hand has a tighter grip on “whisky”. The “Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009”[8]Scottish Government Secretary of State, The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/regulation/3/made makes no mention of “whiskey”. A search of the gov.scot web site reveals but two Scottish Government publications using the word “whiskey”. One document is a planning decision on changing the use of a vacant former Whiskey Bond building to form flats (apartments).[9]Scottish Government Planning Local Government and Communities Directorate. Planning decision: change of use and alteration of vacant former whiskey bond to form 24 flats at Baltic Mill Yard, Dens … Continue reading The other publication that mentions ”whiskey” is titled “Estimate of US Tariffs on UK Exports of Single Malt Scotch”.[10]Scottish Government Environment and Forestry Directorate. Estimating the impacts of US tariffs on UK exports of single malt Scotch whisky. Last modified November 16, 2021. … Continue reading The document shows great discipline in consistently referring to Irish Whiskey, Scotch Whisky, Canadian Whiskey, US Whisky/Whiskey, and “other varieties of whisk(e)y”.
The American’s feel free to use or discard the “e” in whiskey. The “US Government 27 CFR 5.22 – the standards of identity”[11]US Government Code of Federal Regulations. “The standards of identity”27 CFR 5.22 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-5/subpart-C/section-5.22 consistently uses the word “whisky” when referring to the American version. Paragraph 5.23 “Alteration of Class and Type” subparagraph (a)(3)(iii), refers to “straight whiskey” and in the next sentence sentence (subparagraph (b)) changes the spelling to “straight whisky”.[12]US Government Code of Federal Regulations. “Alterations by class and type” 27 CFR 5.23(a)(3)(iii) and (b). … Continue reading The US Government (govinfo.gov) provides access to the same 5,702 documents for key word searches for whiskey or whisky. Refining the search by putting the key word in quotes reveals a score of 2,742 documents for “whiskey” and 2,848 documents for “whisky”; a fairly equitable outcome.
The Government of Canada spells the word “whisky”. Canada Corporations Regulations (C.R.C) c.870 B.02.020 [S].(1) sets the definitions for Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky, or Rye Whisky (the three names are interchangeable).[13]Government of Canada Food and Drug Regulations. “Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky or Rye Whisky” C.R.C., c. 870 paragraph B.02.020[S].(1). Last modified December 9, 2021. … Continue reading Canada’s Spirit Drinks Trade Act (S.C. 2005, c. 39) Schedule sections 3, 3.1 and 4[14]Government of Canada. “Spirit Drinks Trade Act, Use of Spirt Name” S.C. 2005, c. 39 Schedule sections 3, 3.1 and 4. Last modified December 9, 2021. … Continue reading in legally recognizing the Whiskeys of other nations strangely uses the Scottish spelling for “Irish whisky”[15]Government of Canada. “Spirit Drinks Trade Act, Use of Spirt Name” S.C. 2005, c. 39 Schedule sections 3, 3.1 and 4. Last modified December 9, 2021. … Continue reading but for United States versions uses the Irish spelling (also American spelling) for “Bourbon whiskey” and “Tennessee whiskey”.[16]Government of Canada. “Spirit Drinks Trade Act, Use of Spirt Name” S.C. 2005, c. 39 Schedule sections 3, 3.1 and 4. Last modified December 9, 2021. … Continue reading
The Japanese use the Scottish spelling of whisky which seems appropriate. Relative late comers to whisky brewing (1924),[17]Gates, James. How Did the Japanese Become So Obsessed with Whisky? Last modified May 22, 2018. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/how-did-the-japanese-become-so-obsessed-with-whisky/ Japan quickly became known for high quality standards and a unique Scottish inspired whiskey style.
Having said how good Japanese whiskey (and those I sampled have been great!) I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Japan is the only country on this list that has no regulation on what constitutes Whisky bearing the country’s name. Japanese Whisky could be distilled from an all white rice mash, could taste nothing like whiskey (if the distiller was so disposed), could be produced in another country then brought to Japan, bottled and exported as Japanese Whiskey. Anything goes, or I should say went.
Effective April 1 2021 Japan has new labelling laws requiring among other things: fermentation / three years aging in wooden casks/ bottling all take place in Japan, the water for the whiskey must be extracted in Japan and malted grains must always be used (cereal grains can be added to the malted grains if desired).[18]Newman, Kara. Japanese Whisky Regulations are Changing. What Does That Mean for Your Next Pour? Last modified March 11, 2021. … Continue reading The new rules in Japan are similar to those in Ireland, Scotland, United States and Canada. The rules, or lack of rules, were never a barrier to Hibiki, Nikka, Yamazaki, and others in Japan making some of the best whiskies. As for how the Japanese government officially spells whisky, roughly the letters are “ウィスキー”.
So there you have it. The spelling of whiskey/whisky by the main producing countries. You will find producers in most countries, including those above, making their own decisions about the “e”. The future spelling looks bleak for whiskey, the etymology of most words is they become shorter with use. I vote for “whisk”.
Japanese Whisky, Irish Whiskey[19]Photo by C.M. La Bruno, 2021
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