The word “whiskey” is an anglicization of the Classical Gaelic word “uisce” (or “uisge”) meaning “water” (now written as “uisce” in Irish Gaelic, and “uisge” in Scottish Gaelic). Distilled alcohol was known in Latin as “aqua vitae” (“water of life”). This was translated into Irish as “uisce beatha” (“water of life”) and was often referred to as “aon uisce” (“one water”).
The term “whisky” is first recorded in the early 17th century. It is derived from the Gaelic “uisce beatha”, which literally means “water of life”.
The spelling “whiskey” is often used in the United States and Ireland. It is used in Canada and Scotland, “whisky” being the usual spelling.
In the US, whiskey must be distilled from a fermented mash of cereal grain or other agricultural product (e.g., malted barley) at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of less than 95%. Bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, and Rye whiskey are all examples of this type.
American straight bourbon whiskey must contain a minimum 51% corn content. Straight bourbon may only use water to dilute its alcohol content to 80 proof (40% abv), whereas any mixture containing greater than 20% straight bourbon may not call itself “straight”. Straight bourbon must be stored at no more than 62.5% abv after being barreled, and bottled at exactly 40% abv . A straight bourbon that meets these requirements may only display on its label that it was “Bottled by [name]”, rather than using any state name such as Kentucky or Tennessee , where it was actually distilled and/or bottled.
Scotch whisky must be distilled in Scotland from water and malted barley without additives or flavorings at an ABV of no more than 94.8%. Scotch whisky that has been aged for at least three years in oak barrels can be called Scotch whisky aged three years or older; if it has been aged for longer than three years, it can only be called Scotch malt whisky – there is no separate designation for age statements on bottles of single malt scotch whiskies sold outside Scotland).Description goes here
Irish whiskey must be distilled from cereals produced in Ireland and aged for a minimum period of three years in wooden casks which have previously contained spirit made from grain or fruit at an ABV not exceeding 94%. Irish whiskeys include single pot still whiskey and single malt whiskey as well as blended whiskeys like Jameson’s which contain both pot still and grain whiskeys but no single malts.
Canadian Whisky is defined by law to mean either: 1) Whisky manufactured in Canada; 2) Whisky manufactured outside Canada but processed using wood chips imported from Canada; 3) Whisky manufactured outside Canada with a final distillation within Canada; 4) Blended Whisky manufactured entirely within Canada using whiskies from a single distillery that is located outside Canada.