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At their closest points, there are only 12 miles separating Scotland and the North Antrim Coast. But despite the proximity, Ireland and Scotland produce two very different whiskies, and I’m not just talking about the spelling!

Below, you’ll find some straight forward, no-BS answers to the question, ‘What’s the difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey?’. Dive on in!

I’m going to break down the key differences between Irish whiskey vs Scotch with an easy-to-browse overview, first, before going a little more in depth in the second half of the guide.

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Before even opening a bottle, the first difference you’ll notice between the two is the lack of an ‘e’ in the spelling of ‘Scottish whisky’. The only fact for sure, is that there is no great reason why they’re spelled differently!

While many contend that it might be something to do between the nuances of Irish and Scottish Gaelic, the boring truth probably lies closer to do with the largely inconsistent spelling of the 19th century, and for some reason, the Irish (and consequently American) spelling of ‘whiskey’ stuck whereas Scotch went with ‘whisky’ instead.

Another key difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey is the ingredients. The main difference between the contents of their ingredients is that Irish Whiskey is usually made from unmalted barley, whereas Scotch is made from malted barley.

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Though their ingredients differ slightly, both whiskies are produced in a copper pot still and matured for a minimum of three years.

The ageing process is essential to create a fine flavour, as the harsh alcohol profile mellows out over time, whilst the cask imparts glorious woody, spicy and fruity notes.

Irish single malts, however, may be double distilled (Tyrconnell Double Distilled Irish Single Malt Whiskey, for example). You’ll also find some triple distilled Scotch’s, largely in the Lowlands region (such as Auchentoshan Single Malt).

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The final difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey is the taste. Those distillation processes might not seem like a big difference, but the effect is pretty pronounced.

Aside from the distillation, there are also other factors (such as the casks used) that can affect taste but we’ll get to them below!

Take all tales about how each drink was invented with a pinch of salt, as there are endless stories about how/where/when both originated

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While worldwide sales of Scotch are greater than those of Irish Whiskey, fans of Irish whiskey brands will always be able to say that Irish Whiskey came first!

It’s generally thought that monks brought distilling techniques from southern Europe to Ireland in the 11th century, though there isn’t any documentation to prove it.

Records aren’t easy to come by, though the oldest known written record of whiskey in Ireland dates from 1405, while the spirit doesn’t get a mention until 90 years later in 1494.

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Following the introduction of licences in the 17th century and official registration of distillers in the 18th century, whiskey production took off and demand for whiskey in Ireland grew significantly, driven both by large population growth, and by displacing the demand for imported spirits.

Irish

Eventually, however, Scotch Whisky became the number one spirit in the 20th century as Irish Whiskey sales suffered thanks to conflict with Britain and American Prohibition.

As we discussed earlier, the big difference between the ingredients used to make the two spirits is that Irish Whiskey is usually made from unmalted barley, whereas Scotch is made from malted barley.

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A single grain Scotch is often used to denote a whisky made with a single grain that’s not malted barley, although malted barley is added to start the fermentation process.

Irish Whiskey comes in single malt, single pot still, single grain, and blended forms, though the single pot still is probably the most interesting.

It means that it is made from both malted and unmalted barley, which grew out of a tradition of using unmalted barley, as malted barley was taxed (get stuck into a bottle of Green Spot or Redbreast for a great taste of this style!).

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Another of the key differences between Irish whiskey vs Scotch is the production and distillation. In Scotland, their whisky is typically double distilled and a vast variety of copper pot stills are their tool of choice.

Triple distillation is much more common with Irish whiskey, and it’s this divergence in distillation techniques that account for the biggest differences in taste between the two types of whiskey.

All Irish whiskey must be mashed, fermented, distilled to no more than 94.8% ABV, and matured in wooden casks, such as oak, and not exceed 700 liters for a minimum of three years.

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Scotch whiskey must also not exceed 94.8% ABV, but it must be produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley. It also must have a minimum alcoholic strength of 40%.

The final key difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey is the taste. Scotch Whisky is made from malted barley and often features a fuller, heavier taste than most other whiskies.

Irish whiskey, on the other hand, is renowned for its smooth flavour and hints of vanilla, thanks to its triple distillation and use of unmalted barley (or a combination of malted and unmalted barley).

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Both Scotland and Ireland use oak casks. These have a pronounced effect on a whiskey’s flavour, which can vary based on the conditions and type of the cask used. Ex-Bourbon casks, for example, contribute to a sweeter flavour, while Sherry casks often mean a fruitier or spicier taste.

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What’s the difference between Irish whiskey and scotch taste-wise?’ to ‘Which is easier to drink?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

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There are several differences between scotch and whiskey: The ingredients, the way they’re produced, the distillation and the taste (see our guide for more).What's the difference between Gaelic and Celtic? Gaelic is a language spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, while Celtic refers to a cultural identity. Read more to learn about their differences.

Gaelic vs. Celtic: the terms Celtic and Gaelic caused a lot of confusion among people because of the similarities between these terms and how they are related to each other. But there is a clear difference between Celtic and Gaelic, as Gaelic is spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, while Celtic is a group of languages.

Gaelic is an Indo-European language that is commonly spoken in Scotland and Ireland. This language is a member of the Celtic family, which includes many other languages and traditions as well. The Gaelic language is rich with ancient tradition and is used in many schools and media outlets in Ireland and Scotland. A small number of people in the United States, Canada, and Australia also speak this language.

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A Celtic language is a group of languages related to each other and descended from Porto-Celtic. These all languages form a branch of the Indo-European language family. Celtic languages are spoken across Europe, America, and North Africa. Six Celtic languages are still spoken: Breton, Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Manx. All Celtic languages are similar in many ways. They share a common grammar and vocabulary. 5 key differences Between Gaelic and Celtic Languages

Gaelic or Celtic, are both ancient languages descended from a common ancestor. That’s why most people think that it is only one Celtic Gaelic language. But these both languages are different in many ways. The main difference between Gaelic and Celtic languages is that the Gaelic language is itself a branch of the Celtic language. But Celtic language is a group of languages closely related to each other. Both languages may have a common ancestor but evolved at different times.

Alex Stantor is a Sorbonne University (Paris, France) graduate in Philosophy and Data Analysis. Currently, he is an Author and Researcher at Difference 101, he writes articles/blog posts on topics such as thinking differently and the importance of difference. Alex is a passionate advocate of diversity in the workplace and in companies, and diversity and inclusion in corporate communications. He currently lives in Brooklyn.

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