whiskey: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 16, 2026

News •

A bottle of whiskey just sold for $2.8 million. Here's what luxury market pros say drives sky-high booze prices. • Oct. 18, 2026, 5:50 AM ET (Business Insider)

Facts

Also Known As	whisky

Photos and Videos

fermentation and distillation process for producing whiskey

Sazerac cocktail

Several large wooden whisky barrels are stacked outside a white distillery building in Scotland, with distillation equipment visible beside the building.

Scottish distillery

A beginner's guide to tasting Scottish whisky

A hand holds a magnifying glass over an Absolut Vodka label, highlighting “80 PROOF” with question marks in the background.

A piña colada, a bottle of brown liquor, a full shot glass, a cocktail in a coupe glass, and a bottle of gin sit on a bar. A sign labeled Britannica Bar hangs above them.

Learn how barley malt and corn are aged in oak barrels and then blended to taste to create Scotch whiskey in a distillery in Scotland

Sláinte: The influence of Irish language on English

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Irish whiskey Canadian whisky straight whiskey What’s the Difference Between Whiskey and Whisky? What About Scotch, Bourbon, and Rye?blended whiskey bourbon whiskey rye whiskey Scotch whisky Manhattan Cereal mezcal liqueur rum brandy gin vodka aquavit tequila proof spirit Why is making moonshine illegal?