Definition
Whisky (or
whiskey) is a
distilled spirit made from
fermented grain and typically matured in wooden containers for some period of time.
Where It Comes From
Whisky can be made anywhere in the world. Certain countries—like Scotland, Ireland, the United States, and Canada—have regulations that govern its production. Get the details in our
Instant Expert guides.
How It's Made
To get a full understanding of the whisky-making process, see “
How Whisky Is Made.”
Whisky vs. Whiskey
The “e” or lack thereof in the word's spelling is purely orthographical. Whisky is whiskey is whisky. Certain countries favor one spelling over the other—for example, Scotland and Canada always use “whisky,” while Ireland and the United States tend to favor “whiskey.”At
Whisky Advocate, we use the spelling without the e when referring to the whole category, but will revert to each country's or brand's preference when writing about its specific products.
