Liquors!

Guybrush · 09-15-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

If I were talking about Scottish whisky I would say "scotch". If I were talking about the type of liquor in general I would spell it "whiskey" since that's the way the word is spelled in my country of origin but I wouldn't object to a person from Scotland or Japan referring to American or Irish whiskey as "whisky" since that's the way they spell it where they come from.

Interestingly, scotch is a word I've only heard in american movies and television shows although I guess maybe it's used in other english-speaking parts of the world. We don't use the word in Norway and there's no norwegian equivalent, so we're stuck with whisky and whiskey.

**Janszoon** · 09-15-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

Interestingly, scotch is a word I've only heard in american movies and television shows although I guess maybe it's used in other english-speaking parts of the world. We don't use the word in Norway and there's no norwegian equivalent, so we're stuck with whisky and whiskey.

Well that kind of reinforces my point, the terms and spellings may vary from place to place but whiskey, whisky, scotch and bourbon are all referring to the same general class of alcohol which is distinct from other forms of liquor like rum or vodka.

Guybrush · 09-15-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Well that kind of reinforces my point, the terms and spellings may vary from place to place but whiskey, whisky, scotch and bourbon are all referring to the same general type of alcohol which is distinct from other type of liquor like rum or vodka.

Yes and no, the different uses of the word do imply where the liquor is from. Even if the products were identical, I would write an irish whiskey or - if it was scottish - a scottish whisky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

With few exceptions, the spelling is Scottish, Canadian, and Japanese whisky (plural: whiskies), but Irish and American whiskey (whiskeys).

I'm quite sure someone from Scotland or Ireland who cares about this would also make sure he or she was consistent with spelling it "right", either as whiskey or whisky depending on where the product is from. In other words, the slightly separate spellings do serve a function.

**Janszoon** · 09-15-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

Yes and no, the different uses of the word do imply where the liquor is from. Even if the products were identical, I would write an irish whiskey or - if it was scottish - a scottish whisky.

I'm quite sure someone from Scotland or Ireland who cares about this would also make sure he or she was consistent with spelling it "right", either as whiskey or whisky depending on where the product is from. In other words, the slightly separate spellings do serve a function.

So then what is your general name for the class of liquors that is comprised of whiskey, whisky, scotch and bourbon from all the various countries they come from?

Guybrush · 09-15-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

So then what is your general name for the class of liquors that is comprised of whiskey, whisky, scotch and bourbon from all the various countries they come from?

I don't know of a written general name that covers them all. I would use the two names and write whiskies and whiskeys. For example if I made a thread that was supposed to be about bourbons as well as scotch, I would've called it "Whiskys & Whiskeys" or something similar.

Aquavit (Akevitt in Norway) is a scandinavian liquor sometimes made of grain but typically made from potatoes and flavoured with caraway seeds and sometimes other herbs. It has a rather unique flavour I think which I haven't come across anywhere else and aside from the flavourings I mentioned, I find the taste quite hard to describe.

Gammel Oppland is probably my favourite of our norwegian akevitts. It's matured in barrels so it's a brown liquor, though there are some clear akevitts out there as well.

You typically don't drink this on it's own. Usually, it's part of a rich meal around christmas times, often accompanied by a dark seasonal juleøl or yule-beer (christmas beer). Getting together for dinners and drinking is a tradition up here and with enough akevitt, it usually gets quite lively. People sing drinking songs and drink akevitt shots.

Aquavit is getting more and more recognition now outside Scandinavia which I personally think is great because it is awesome. However, it is always tied up with hearty meals like salty meat or fermented fish dishes with powerful flavours. If any of you ever come to visit during the later parts of the year, we'll get a bottle.

**Janszoon** · 09-15-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

I don't know of a written general name that covers them all.

How about either "whiskey" or "whisky" as noted in the first paragraph of the very same Wikipedia article that you quoted to me earlier:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Whisky or whiskey refers to a broad category of alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and maize (corn). Most whiskies are aged in wooden casks (generally oak), the exception being some corn whiskeys.

Guybrush · 09-15-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

How about either "whiskey" or "whisky" as noted in the first paragraph of the very same Wikipedia article that you quoted to me earlier:

What you quoted would be true regardless of wether or not you accept that spelling implies geographical origin. Notice that I'm writing implies, I'm not saying this is definite. Your average person may not be aware of this, but if you enter communities and discussions with people who have an interest in these liquors, they likely will be.

For example you can read here about a poor reviewer who got a lot of complaints from angry scotsmen and scotch-supporters when he accidentally called a "whisky" for "whiskey" ..

>> Whiskey versus Whisky - The Pour Blog - NYTimes.com

As you can see, the Times style guideline he posts suggests using the word "whiskey" even for scotch, but you can probably tell by the number of complaints that for many, that's not satisfactory and even offensive to some.

Quote:

Originally Posted by From the above link

I decided to check in with my favorite word authority, Jesse Sheidlower, editor at large of the Oxford English Dictionary, and this is what he said:

“As an aficionado of whisky and whiskey, I do have deep feelings on the usage, which is pretty much that the Times style should be changed. This isn’t a case where a small group of fanatics are insisting on some highly personal interpretation of an issue that is not adhered to by anyone outside their cult. It’s almost universally the case that the word is spelled ‘whisky’ in Scotland and Canada, and ‘whiskey’ elsewhere, and that, as you have seen, people really do care about this as an important distinction. I’d also observe that the O.E.D. points this out in its entry. So I would encourage you to adopt this distinction in the style book. I have no problem with using ‘whiskey’ as a the main generic form, if there’s no indication of location.’’

FETCHER. · 09-15-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Honestly I was going a little young when I said 80. That usage of flower is actually something I associate more with the 1800s or something.

really? its very common here, as i said before on teaching children. i was brought up using it

. must just be a thing that died out where you stay

.