what is whiskey

Whiskey (or whisky) is a type of distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash. The grains used for different varieties include barley, corn, wheat, and rye, and the mash is typically aged in wooden containers, usually of white oak. The name "whiskey" comes from the Celtic usquebaugh, which means "water of life" in Latin. The spelling "whiskey" is common in Ireland and the United States, while "whisky" is used in all other whisky-producing countries. There are many different types of whiskey, including bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish, and Canadian whiskeys, each with its own distinctive character due to differences in the method of production, the type and character of the cereal grains, and the quality and character of the water employed. Bourbon whiskey, for example, is made from a mash that consists of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred American white oak barrels. Whiskey is typically a hard liquor with an alcohol content of about 40% ABV.