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Whisky and whiskey are two spellings for the broad category of spirits made from grain. Bourbon is a specific type of U.S. whiskey, while Scotch whisky must be made and matured in Scotland under defined rules. The spelling can hint at a tradition, but it is not reliable proof of where a bottle was made.
How the terms fit together
Think of the labels as a broad category followed by more specific types:
- Whisky or whiskey: the broad grain-spirit category. EU Regulation 2019/787 uses the combined wording “whisky or whiskey” for the category.
- Scotch whisky: a geographically defined type of whisky that must meet Scotland’s production and maturation requirements.
- Bourbon whiskey: a U.S.-defined type of whiskey with requirements for its corn content, distillation, and new charred-oak containers.
So bourbon is whiskey, not a separate family unrelated to it. Scotch and bourbon are distinct categories with different rules; the word “whisky” or “whiskey” alone does not establish which rules a bottle meets.
How Scotch whisky differs
Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Scotch must be produced at a distillery in Scotland. It must be made from water and malted barley, with whole grains of other cereals also permitted under the rules. Distillation must be below 94.8% ABV.
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Scotch must mature only in Scotland, in oak casks no larger than 700 litres, for at least three years. It must be bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. These are requirements for Scotch, not for every whisky made elsewhere.
Scotch categories and “single malt”
The regulations identify five categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky. “Single malt” does not mean whisky from one barrel. It means Scotch made at one distillery from water and malted barley, without other cereals, and distilled in pot stills. A blended malt combines single malts from more than one distillery; blended Scotch combines one or more single malts with one or more single grain whiskies.
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How bourbon differs
U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) guidance describes bourbon as whiskey produced in the United States from a fermented mash containing at least 51% corn. It must be distilled at no more than 160 proof and stored in charred new oak containers at no more than 125 proof. The guidance also excludes coloring, flavoring, and blending materials. See the TTB’s whisky guidance for these standards.
The two-year minimum applies to straight bourbon, which must be aged in charred new oak for at least that long. It is not a general minimum-age rule for every bourbon. The TTB guidance cited here is from 2024.
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- THE OFFICIAL WHISKY GLASS - In the long and illustrious history of whisky, there has never been a single definitive glass that the whisky world could call its own. Now, following in the tradition of Scottish innovation, the Glencairn Glass has arrived. The Glencairn Glass’ roots lie in the traditional nosing and tasting glasses used by master blenders and connoisseurs around the world.
- ENHANCING YOUR WHISKY EXPERIENCE - The unique and stylish shape has been crafted with eminent care to enhance the enjoyment of single malts and aged blends. The tapered mouth allows and ease of drinking not associated with traditional nosing glasses. While capturing that all-important bouquet. The wide bowl allows the fullest appreciation of the whisky’s colour and the solid base is designed to be easy on the hand.
- CRYSTAL WHISKY GLASSES - The Glencairn Glass can be found at major whisky festivals around the world and in many serious whisky bars. The glass is also used in distilleries across the globe. Since its launch in 2001 the glass has won numerous awards including the Queens Award for Innovation. Today, over 3 million glasses are sold annually and sales continue to grow.
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Why “whisky” and “whiskey” are not dependable origin clues
A common spelling convention associates “whisky” with Scotland and “whiskey” with Ireland and the United States. It can be a useful hint, but it is not a universal production rule or a substitute for checking the label’s stated origin and category. EU law uses “whisky or whiskey,” and U.S. agency materials use both “bourbon whisky” and “bourbon whiskey.”
There is a current U.S. example: the TTB’s American single malt whisky standard took effect on January 19, 2025. It requires production at one U.S. distillery, a mash of 100% malted barley, and mashing, distilling, and aging in the United States, in oak barrels no larger than 700 litres. The TTB described a transition period for qualifying labels on products bottled before January 19, 2030. The standard illustrates why “whisky” on a label does not necessarily mean Scotch or Scottish origin. Details are in the TTB’s American single malt whisky announcement.
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- THE OFFICIAL WHISKY GLASS - In the long and illustrious history of whisky, there has never been a single definitive glass that the whisky world could call its own. Now, following in the tradition of Scottish innovation, the Glencairn Glass has arrived. The Glencairn Glass’ roots lie in the traditional nosing and tasting glasses used by master blenders and connoisseurs around the world.
- ENHANCING YOUR WHISKY EXPERIENCE - The unique and stylish shape has been crafted with eminent care to enhance the enjoyment of single malts and aged blends. The tapered mouth allows and ease of drinking not associated with traditional nosing glasses. While capturing that all-important bouquet. The wide bowl allows the fullest appreciation of the whisky’s colour and the solid base is designed to be easy on the hand.
- CRYSTAL WHISKY GLASSES - The Glencairn Glass can be found at major whisky festivals around the world and in many serious whisky bars. The glass is also used in distilleries across the globe. Since its launch in 2001 the glass has won numerous awards including the Queens Award for Innovation. Today, over 3 million glasses are sold annually and sales continue to grow.
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What to check on a bottle
Use the specific category and origin statements rather than relying on spelling alone. The main distinctions are:
- Origin: Scotch must be produced and matured in Scotland; bourbon must be produced in the United States.
- Grain: bourbon requires at least 51% corn in its fermented mash; Scotch rules specify malted barley and permit whole grains of other cereals.
- Production and maturation: Scotch has requirements for distillation strength, Scottish oak-cask maturation, and minimum age. Bourbon has limits for distillation and storage strength and requires charred new oak.
- Category wording: “Straight bourbon” adds a two-year minimum; “single malt Scotch” describes production at one distillery, not a single barrel.
These legal categories explain what a label means; they do not, by themselves, establish a spirit’s flavor or quality.
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