WHAT IS WHISKEY (WHISKY)?
By Steve Kirwan
Nearly every discussion about what constitutes “whiskey” includes questions about the spelling, the format vaguely correlated to lineage. Irish whiskey and its descendants, including the majority of American whiskeys, are spelled with an “e.” Scotch whisky descendants, including those made in Canada and Japan, typically skip the “e.” Despite spelling variations, all whiskeys are alcoholic beverage distilled from fermented grain mash, the type and origin determining the choice of grains. Although barley (malted and green), corn, rye, and wheat are most frequent, any grains are acceptable. By law, whiskey requires aging in wooden casks (most commonly oak), the material and time strictly regulated.
Whiskey is undisputedly the most popular spirit made and consumed today. The breadth and variety of available whiskeys are staggering, useful considering that choosing a whiskey is highly personal and subject to unique individual preferences. Be sure to check out our other links for Scotch, Irish, and other types of whiskeys.