Whisky and Whiskey, Scotch and Bourbon, etc.
Saturday, March 28th, 2009Perhaps you’ve seen both “whisky” and “whiskey” in liquor stores, and wondered if they were one and the same, or if they were different somehow. Or perhaps you’ve wondered if all Bourbon is whiskey, or if all whiskey is Bourbon. This Seattle Post-Intelligencer article can help.
To summarize: Whisky and whiskey are the same thing. Different dialects have led to different spellings of the word. The Scotch never use the “e,” while the Irish always do. Opinion on the “e” seems to vary in North America.
All Bourbon is indeed whiskey. Bourbon is defined as a whiskey made in the United States, from pure ingredients including 51-79% corn, aged in a “charred new oak container.” However, all whiskey is not Bourbon. Scotch whisky is whiskey made in Scotland. Irish whiskey and Canadian whiskey are other varieties.
Whatever your favorite whisky or whiskey, be sure to enjoy it in one of our fine highball glasses.
